Marjah

Marjah
مارجه
U.S. Marines on a patrol next to a poppy field in 2010
U.S. Marines on a patrol next to a poppy field in 2010
Marjah is located in Afghanistan
Marjah
Marjah
Location in Afghanistan
Coordinates: 31°31′N 64°07′E / 31.517°N 64.117°E / 31.517; 64.117
Country Afghanistan
ProvinceHelmand Province
DistrictNad Ali
Population
[1][2][3]
 • Total
80−85,000 (disputed)
125,000 (with surrounding area - also disputed)
Time zoneUTC+4:30

Marjah (also spelled Marjeh; Pashto/Persian: مارجه) is an agricultural town in southern Afghanistan. It has been reported to have a population between 80,000 and 125,000, but some sources argue that its population is much smaller and is spread across 80 to 125 km2, an area larger than Cleveland or Washington, D.C.[4] Another source described Marjah as "a cluster of villages" and "a community of 60,000 persons".[5] The town sits in Nad Ali District of Helmand Province, southwest of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

Operation Moshtarak (or the Battle of Marjah) took place in the area.

  1. ^ Thompson, Mark (2010-02-09). "U.S. Troops Prepare to Test Obama's Afghan War Plan". TIME. Archived from the original on February 14, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-09. A town of 80,000, Marja...
  2. ^ Perry, Tony (2010-02-03). "In Afghanistan, Marines ready attack on Taliban redoubt". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-02-03. Marja, with a population estimated at 85,000...
  3. ^ Marquez, Miguel (2010-02-03). "Afghanistan: Marines Gear Up for Biggest Fight Yet". ABC News. Retrieved 2010-02-03. Marja and the surrounding area, with an estimated population of 125,000...
  4. ^ Porter, Gareth (8 March 2010). "POLITICS: Fiction of Marja as City Was U.S. Information War". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  5. ^ Suhrke, Astri (2011). When More is Less: The International Project in Afghanistan. London: C. Hurst. pp. 63, 64. ISBN 978-1-84904-164-5.