Afghans asking troops for compensation

Tulip Mazumdar
Newsbeat reporter in Afghanistan

The claims team describe the handout as 'aid money'

Hundreds of Afghans are knocking on the door at one British base in Helmand Province asking for compensation, Newsbeat's been told.

It's because troops have destroyed houses or killed or injured family members in attacks on the Taleban.

Soldiers have said that Taleban fighters use the homes of locals to fire from because they know Brits will fire back and end up hurting villagers.

When locals get caught up in attacks by accident, the army calls it 'collateral damage.'

The United Nations put the civilian death toll in Afghanistan last month at 330.

Bombardier Robert Richardson handles claims in an area where around 100,000 people live.

He said: "I do three claims clinics a week. I'd say we get 25 people each day, sometimes we get 60 people in one day.

"Most of them will be claiming for houses that have been damaged or destroyed. Some people come in about relatives who have been injured.

"A lot of people come in and reference crops and animals. We do lose quite a lot of animals in some of the firefights that are going on."

The claims team say the cash they hand out is "aid money" and not compensation.

If British taxpayers get angry or confused as to why their money is going towards civilian deaths or to civilian injuries or whatever else, I'm afraid that's just part and parcel of the campaign we're in Major Mike Shervington, Commanding Officer of D Company, 2 Para

They wouldn't go into how much they're dishing out, but Newsbeat knows of a man who lost his wife and two children and was given a few hundred pounds.

They wouldn't go into how much they're dishing out, but Newsbeat knows of a man who lost his wife and two children and was given a few hundred pounds as a goodwill payment until the details of the case could be looked into and a full compensation payment made if it was necessary.

Major Mike Shervington is the Officer in Command of D Company of 2 Para and it's his job to call in heavy fire power.

He said: "We take it very seriously - any form of collateral damage.

"The people here, as the expression goes, are the prize. If we lose the popular vote here we're really pushing water uphill with a fork."

Newsbeat asked what he would say to those who might ask why we are shooting people then paying them compensation.

He replied: "First of all, we are not just shooting people. It's a very complex environment.

"If British taxpayers get angry or confused as to why their money is going towards civilian deaths or to civilian injuries or whatever else, I'm afraid that's just part and parcel of the campaign we're in.

"If we decided not to give them any money or medical help if we after accidently shot someone, then which way are they going to vote? They're going to say, 'Well the Taleban will help me'."