AFGHANISTAN: Première Urgence Internationale maintains the deployment of humanitarian aid to the Afghan population.
The last 5 days will be remembered as a major turning point in the history of Afghanistan and its 38 million citizens. The change of power on August 15 – with the entry of Taliban forces from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan into Kabul – should not distract any policymakers from addressing the most urgent needs of the population.
© Roya Heydari | Première Urgence Internationale
After a single day of closing on Sunday 15th August, Première Urgence Internationale resumed all its activities in the field.
Since Monday 16th, 5 mobile clinics have been deployed in 4 Eastern provinces of Nuristan, Laghman, Kunar and Nangarhar.
In 4 days, the teams of 2 mobile clinics have already reported:
- 506 first aid provided to patients suffering from trauma (182 conflict related and 324 domestic/car accident related)
- 93 Ante Natal care consultations to pregnant women, 18 post-natal consultations and 10 sessions of family planning
- 10 children have been admitted in Medium and Acute Malnutrition programs, 8 to Severe Acute Malnutrion
- 1056 outpatient general consultations have been provided across 2 mobile health teams out of 5.
Première Urgence Internationale is currently collecting all available data from the field and conducting assessments so as to update needs analysis.
The humanitarian situation was already critical
Afghanistan is one of the world’s deadliest conflicts. Since May 2021, the country was going through an escalation of armed attacks in the main provincial capitals area, leading more than half a million people to flee their homes and find refuge in other parts of the country.
The humanitarian situation was already critical before the year had begun with an alarming 18.4 million people with acute humanitarian needs, compared with 14 million in 2020 and 6.3 million in 20191.
14 million people are facing acute food insecurity including 2 million children at risk of malnutrition2.
The effects of Covid-19 pandemic are worsening the situation with 151,000 reported confirmed cases, which in reality is much higher.
Before 15th August change of power, the World Bank expected the economy to contract by 5.5 to 7.4% this year due to pandemic, with more than 70% of the population slipping under the poverty line, due to political evolution of last week, this figure is expected to increase.
The access of the population to basic services, notably to health care, nutrition, water and sanitation services is a real challenge for millions of Afghan women, children and elderly people.
The top priority of the International community and decision-makers is to maintain the humanitarian coordination in Afghanistan and allow shipments of medical equipment and drugs enter the country as a life-saving necessity.
In this context, Première Urgence Internationale is more than ever committed to stay and deliver aid!
As long as Humanitarian Principals, the security and safety of our staff are observed, we will keep implementing our programs and address the most urgent needs.
12021 Humanitarian Response Plan
2World Food Programme
