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Air Pollution and Mismanagement: 383 Children and Women Died in Two Weeks in Afghanistan


Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, is deeply engulfed in crisis across all sectors, especially in the healthcare domain. The World Health Organization, through numerous reports over the past two years, has expressed concerns over the country’s poor health conditions and lack of access to healthcare services. In its latest report, it is stated that during the last two weeks of January of this year, 383 people lost their lives. However, concerning air quality and pollution, Afghanistan is positioned among rapidly growing countries and economic giants like China and India, suffering severely from air pollution without playing a role. The World Health Organization has previously stated that Afghanistan is experiencing a persistent humanitarian crisis and an unstable healthcare system, exacerbated by Taliban-imposed restrictions on women, greatly reducing their access to healthcare.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an increase in acute respiratory infections in Afghanistan during the final two weeks of January. According to the organization’s report, nearly 84,000 cases of acute respiratory illness have been recorded in Afghanistan during this period, with 383 fatalities.

In its 11-page report, the organization reported 160,757 cases of acute respiratory infections across 34 provinces of Afghanistan from January 1st to 27th. According to the WHO, children under five years old and women are among the casualties of these respiratory infections.

The World Health Organization stated that in 2023, 2,798 individuals across Afghanistan lost their lives due to acute respiratory illnesses, with 9.5 million individuals currently residing in areas lacking access to healthcare services. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), this comes as Afghanistan faces significant pollution sources from industrial zones and daily plastic material combustion. The use of personal vehicles and the increased burning of fossil fuels and other synthetic materials for heating purposes have polluted the environment, according to the organization.

AQI has said, that Afghanistan is noted to be among the rapidly growing countries and economic giants like China and India, suffering severely from air pollution without playing a role in this regard. According to information from this institution, the effects of air where pollution lead to increased respiratory problems, premature aging of the lungs, increased risk of chest infections, and irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. Environmental pollution caused by industrial materials disproportionately endangers children and disrupts lung function and proper growth.

According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), smoke from plastics can severely damage the nervous system and greatly reduce an individual quality of life. Severe fatigue, headaches, and damage to the liver and kidneys are also among the other consequences of pollution.

Currently in Afghanistan, in addition to being affected by pollutants from regional countries, the burning of industrial and plastic materials in brick kilns and the use of plastic waste for heat production generate significant levels of air pollution, with no proper management or strategies in place to curb the environmental crisis.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously stated that Afghanistan is grappling with a persistent humanitarian crisis. According to this institution, Afghan citizens endure an unstable healthcare system and face severe food shortages. The report highlights that malnutrition, recurrent disease outbreaks, severe droughts, and natural disasters have exacerbated Afghanistan’s healthcare system’s fragility, with Taliban-imposed barriers and limited access to healthcare intensifying the health crisis.

It is noteworthy that out of at least 400 administrative units in the country, only 90 district health centers are operational, and more than 300 districts lack female specialists.

While the World Health Organization reports an increase in acute respiratory illnesses in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Public Health, under Taliban control, has confirmed to the media an escalation in respiratory disease cases, with over one million individuals affected by respiratory illnesses in the first month of this year.



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