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Health Catastrophe
in Afghanistan
By Nora Belfedal 24/10/2001
In light of the attacks on the Afghani people carried out by the United States and the United Kingdom, humanitarian organizations and
the United Nations have sent out emergency calls for help. But ironically, the
U.S. and Britain have also sought to assist people who are in need of healthcare as a way of emphasizing that their war is not against the Afghani people, but against the "terrorists" who are living there.
The U.N. office in Geneva and the World Health Organization (WHO) talk of an alarming "health crisis". The number of refugees from Afghanistan now exceeds seven and a half million (mostly women and children) and most of the aid workers who were previously assisting them are gone (Reuters).
The life-expectancy rate in Afghanistan is 45.3 years for men and 47.2 for women according to WHO, while infant mortality is about 25% - one of the lowest in the world (WFP).
After the deaths of four workers at the U.N.-funded Afghan Technical Consultants (ATC), and of more civilians in Kabul on October 8 as a result of the U.S. attacks, the U.N. and Amnesty International urged America and Britain to halt their attacks in order to give humanitarian services time to provide food and primary healthcare (Amnesty International). "We are losing critical time to bring in the food to distribute before this coming winter," says the Director of Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF-Holland, Doctors Without Borders).
Answering to this request and in "respect for" the Muslim holy day, the air strikes on Afghanistan were halted for one day - a Friday - last week. However, more time is needed to distribute the winter supplies before the notorious Afghan winter descends on an unprepared people.
But access to food, shelter and clothing are not the only problems the average Afghani has to face. The spread of contagious diseases, especially in refugee camps, has become a major concern for the Afghani people. Five thousand cases of cholera and 100 cholera- related deaths have already been recorded; yet not all cases can be documented (Reuters). Other deadly diseases are also further exacerbating the heath crisis, including malaria - which is responsible for at least 3,000,000 estimated cases per year.
In addition, UNICEF reports that polio and measles are responsible for 21% of deaths in Afghani children and that tuberculosis is also a major health issue. The Afghanistan National Tuberculosis Institute reports that there are between 22,000 and 33,000 tuberculosis-deaths annually (AFP).
Many other diseases have also been recorded, including dysentery, typhoid and yellow fever or Gulran disease (reliefweb.int). In addition, a new Ebola-like virus - which causes its victims to bleed to death - has killed several people (Reuters).
Most of the infections mentioned above are caused by the worst drought in 30 years, very poor sanitation and malnutrition. Only 13% of the Afghan population has access to drinkable water says UNICEF. The drought has destroyed most fields and killed up to 70% of cattle in many parts of the country. According to WFP, millions of Afghans are malnourished and at risk of starvation. Aid organizations have stocks of food, but due to the recent U.S. strikes, cannot distribute them.
In addition to health problems, starvation and malnourishment, cold weather exposure is another major concern. This winter, WHO anticipates an increase in respiratory infections, which usually account for 20% of deaths in small children. Last winter saw more than 150 people dying every week says Dr. Wahdati, WHO's officer in Afghanistan. He fears that the combination of malnutrition, cold and overcrowding this year might devastate this already impaired population.
Another unusual health risk in Afghanistan is hidden land mines. Afghanistan is still littered with mines left over by the Soviets during the war in the late 70's and early 80's. Many of the refugees heading for aid camps either die or are in need of amputations after stepping on the hidden mines that litter their paths.
Children are usually the first victims of the mines because the Russian explosives misleadingly resemble toys or butterflies. Forty-five to 100 Afghans are killed or injured by mines every week. Children represent two out of every five victims (www.globeandmail.com).
In addition, the health situation for women is particularly terrible. Studies have shown that communal bereavements negatively affect fetuses and that many women give birth to very low weight or premature babies (Reuters). Afghanistan has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world, at 1,700 per 100,000 live births (UNICEF). In a study lead by Dr. Zohra Rasekh, the majority of Afghani women have reported a physical and mental health decline.
However, even if an Afghani can survive all the health risks in their country, they rarely escape from the mental disorders that plague the population. As a result of 22 years of non-stop war, the Afghan population suffers from many post-traumatic stress disorders. Human rights abuses and scenes of violence have further mentally weakened and traumatized Afghanis, especially children.
UNICEF conducted a study and found out that 72% of children have lost at least one family member and that two-thirds of them have seen dead body. "We are reminded daily of the physical scars of war on children, but the results of this study confront us with the fact that the mental wounds are as deep," said UNICEF's Executive Director.
Young children worry about their futures and that of their families, and 75% of them do not expect to live to adulthood.
Now the question is what can we do for them? The least thing we can do is remember our brothers and sisters in our
du'a (supplications) and donate money to organizations associations like UNICEF, which can be trusted to actually distribute supplies in an ethical manner.
Another way to help is "…to stay informed of the situation there, to try and hear different sides of any story, and to try and come to an independent analysis," says Austen David, Director General of MSF-Holland.
Last but not least, is to volunteer and go abroad to work with humanitarian organizations and "stand for the dignity of all human beings." If it is impossible to volunteer then "it is always possible to organize discussion groups, debates, or support groups," advises Austen. Those groups should stay in contact with organizations that will help guide them toward properly providing for needy people in Afghanistan, and anywhere else in the world (MSF-Holland).
References:
AFP. Agence France Press. "Tuberculosis spreading in Afghanistan killing thousands: experts"
MSF-Holland, "Q&A: Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis"
MSF. Medecins Sans Frontieres, "A closer look at MSF in Afghanistan and Central Asia"
UNICEF, "Effects of Landmines on Children"
Rasekh, Zohra Dr. JAMA, "Women's Health and Human Rights in Afghanistan"
UNICEF, "Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan Region"
UNICEF, "Afghanistan: Civil Conflict - Latest Information"
WFP. World Food Program, "Afghanistan: Fear in the camps"
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