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KABUL: Taliban group has forced Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) to close its 42 out of 77 health facilities in six out of nine districts of Wardak province, the organization said in a statement, adding that “due to this closure, an estimated 5,700 patients are affected on a daily basis.”
Accordion to SCA, it comes after last week’s deadly attack carried out by the Afghan security forces in Wardak against SCA, in which the Taliban group forced SCA to close all health clinics and a hospital in the province.
The closure of health faculties affects provision of health services to hundreds of thousands of people, particularly women and children, the statement added.
“Forcing SCA to close health facilities hence denying people to receive medical treatment and health services is an obvious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, says Sonny Mansson, SCA country director.
“We demand immediate reopening of all health facilities for the people and we strongly urge all parties involved in conflict to refrain from such actions which deliberately puts civilian lives at risk”, he added.
The Taliban demand was given this weekend directly to SCA and its facilities in the area, following last week’s attack by ANSF forces the night between 8-9 July on a clinic in Tangi Saidan area of Daimirdad district, where four people were confirmed dead and one is still missing; the attack by ANSF was strongly condemned by the SCA.
SCA is in continuous contact with all parties in an attempt to reopen the health facilities in the Wardak province and we specifically urge Taliban leadership to agree on reopening of the health facilities with immediate effect, he added.
The closing of mentioned health facilities affects per day more than3 800 outpatient department, 1 100 children under five years of age, 620 visits to EPI (expanded program on immunization), 220 MCH patients (maternal and child health) and 100 IPD patients (in-patient department).
Moreover, Taliban Spokesman, Zabihullah Muijahid said that as the clinics under SCA funding failed to protect its personnel and institution from raids, these health facilities would remain closed.
Until the SCA is taking action to review its policies of protecting its staffs and health facilities these clinics will not reopen, the Taliban spokesman warned, saying “if SCA fails to take action in the aspect, we will have to look for alternatives.”
