The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Hundreds of people, mostly children, have reportedly fallen ill in Dasht-e Barchi area of Kabul in recent days, prompting the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health to appoint a committee to investigate the cause of the outbreak.
According to Afghanistan International, citing informed and local
sources, the committee met Tuesday with neighborhood
representatives, local elders and mosque imams in districts 13 and 18 of
Dasht-e Barchi to discuss the situation.
The reported cases began emerging Sunday, with patients
experiencing symptoms including fever, diarrhea, headaches and vomiting. Local
residents told Afghanistan International that several hospitals in the area
have seen an increase in patients, while some ambulances have transported
patients to medical facilities in other parts of Kabul.
A resident of Qala-e Naw in Dasht-e Barchi told Afghanistan
International that hundreds of children had developed what he described as a
contagious illness in recent days. The cause of the illness has not been
established, according to the report.
The resident said dozens of children were receiving
treatment at local hospitals.
Afghanistan International also reported that the committee
was formed after Hazara community elders called for an investigation into the
outbreak.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Hassan Ghiasi, the Taliban’s deputy
public health minister, met with representatives of the World Health
Organization and the Aga Khan Foundation to discuss the situation.
The Taliban said the meeting focused on coordinating efforts
to respond to, prevent and treat diarrheal diseases in Dasht-e Barchi.
The Ministry of Public Health has not officially commented
on the reported appointment of a committee to determine the cause of the
outbreak.
Residents told Afghanistan International that cases have
been concentrated in four areas of Dasht-e Barchi: 20-Meter Road, Erfani
Township, Qala-e Naw and Abarasani.
The outbreak comes as western Kabul faces persistent
challenges in access to drinking water. In many parts of the area, families
rely on water delivered by tanker trucks after wells have dried up.
The cause of the reported illnesses and the number of people
affected have not been independently established.
