Joao

Damn. Friend got seriously injured in Afghanistan. Joao Silva. Portuguese lad but living in SA, with many years of experience (Balkans, MEast, pre-1994 SA township violence,...). Works for the NY Times.

He was one of the 4 lads of the so called Bang Bang Club. He was co-author of a book with same name about covering SA's township violence pre-1994. The book has just been turned into a movie.

Joao stepped on a mine in Kandahar province, after US mine clearance dogs passed over the area. He is receiving treatment at a US military field hospital, and will then be flown to the large, top-of-the-range US army hospital in Rammstein, Germany. Fingers crossed!!!!!!!!!