A humanitarian glimpse into Afghanistan

The letter writer (centre) with Dr Norherah and Dr Heng. The photo was taken with a camera obscura they came across in Kandahar in 2002 when they were volunteers in Afghanistan with Mercy Malaysia. — Provided by DR HANITA HANIM ISMAIL

I VISITED Afghanistan sometime in 2002 on a humanitarian mission with Mercy Malaysia. I functioned as an educator. The following narrative is based on my memories as a 27-year-old woman and thoughts about that nation.

There were only three of us – Dr Norherah Syed Omar (now Datin and wife of Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal, the current president of Mercy Malaysia), Deepak Gill (then a reporter with The Star) and I, all draped in our beige corporate jackets.