Urgent health and humanitarian needs of the Afghan population under the Taliban

Abstract

During August, 2021, provincial capitals in Afghanistan and Kabul fell into the hands of the Taliban. For many Afghans within Afghanistan and in diaspora communities, the psychological trauma is palpable as they relive painful, unforgotten memories of 1996 onwards and face uncertainty about the country's future. Afghans who have fought to bring health and justice to the country in their roles as officials, health professionals, non-governmental workers, activists, artists, and journalists are being persecuted once again through the Taliban's door-to-door and social media searches. 1 Graham-Harrison E ”There are no women in the streets”—the day life changed in Kabul. The Guardian. Aug 16, 2021; Google Scholar Afghan civilians continue to be direct and targeted victims of the armed conflict as violence soars 2 Médecins Sans FrontièresAs violence soars across Afghanistan access to healthcare is dangerously limited. https://www.msf.org/violence-soars-across-afghanistan-while-access-healthcare-becomes-severely-limitedDate: Aug 10, 2021 Date accessed: August 19, 2021 Google Scholar and there are substantial health, humanitarian, and protection needs in the country, which field reports from WHO highlight are increasing in areas where people have been seeking safety and shelter. 3 WHO Regional Office for the Eastern MediterraneanStatement on Afghanistan by Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. http://www.emro.who.int/media/news/statement-on-afghanistan-by-dr-ahmed-al-mandhari-who-regional-director-for-the-eastern-mediterranean.htmlDate: Aug 18, 2021 Date accessed: August 23, 2021 Google Scholar Optimising epilepsy care throughout the Afghan refugee crisisThe takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in August, 2021, and the associated collapse of governmental institutions has led to innumerable security and humanitarian concerns, particularly for women and girls.1 Even before this event, more than 550 000 Afghans had been internally displaced during 2021.2 At the end of 2020, 3 million Afghans were internally displaced, and 2·6 million Afghan people were recognised as refugees or asylum seekers; most of them hosted in neighbouring Pakistan and Iran. Full-Text PDF