Afghanistan ? Two transport trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, escorted by South Carolina National Guard troops, rolled into the Afghan army base here earlier this month.

The aid – clothes, food and hygiene kits – was delivered after a NATO bombing killed dozens of men, women and children near this town of about 46,000 in the heart of Helmland province.

“The bombings caused a mess,” said Army Maj. Marc Daniels, who commanded the aid convoy. “You get a hailstorm of people who are upset because you’ve just blown up their families.”

Military leaders hope the aid will help salve hard feelings toward the U.S.-led coalition that is fighting the Taliban.

But Afghan officials increasingly are criticizing the coalition for attacks that kill civilians. The country’s president, Hamid Karzai, has pleaded for Western forces to exercise more caution when targeting Taliban forces.