Humanitarian, Security Crises Continue to Plague Afghanistan and Pakistan
Afghanistan and Pakistan are facing a series of interlinked crises, spanning natural disasters, insurgency, and human rights violations, with mounting concerns over civilian welfare and humanitarian access.
Despite an influx of international assistance following the 6.0-magnitude earthquake on August 31, Taliban authorities have reportedly launched a campaign of compulsory fundraising, pressuring teachers and students in Bamiyan, Maidan Wardak, and Ghazni provinces to contribute under the guise of “aid for earthquake victims,” according to Amu TV.
The quake devastated Kunar Province and neighboring areas, killing more than 2,200 people, injuring 3,600, and destroying at least 6,700 homes, according to the United Nations. An estimated 84,000 people were affected, losing homes, schools, health centers, farmland, livestock, and access to clean water.
Meanwhile, the UN has warned of a looming cholera outbreak among survivors of the eastern Afghanistan earthquake. According to Khaama Press, the combination of damaged water infrastructure, overcrowded shelters, and sanitation breakdowns is creating conditions ripe for the waterborne disease. Health agencies urge immediate deployment of clean water, oral rehydration solutions, and vaccination campaigns to avert a public health disaster.
The conditions of human rights see a declining pattern under the Taliban rule. Four years after the Taliban’s return, Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated at the 60th UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva that Afghan women and girls are now largely absent from public life, with severe restrictions on health services and social freedoms. Afghanistan reportedly has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, according to Reuters.
This comes against a backdrop of insecurity. In Herat province, a powerful explosion struck a residential area, killing eight civilians and injuring several others, according to Anadolu Agency. The blast displaced multiple families and heightened fears as winter approaches. Officials have yet to confirm the cause, but investigations are underway to determine if it was accidental or militant-linked.
Pakistani authorities are also warning that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) now has more than 8,000 active fighters operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As reported by Khaama Press, this surge represents a growing security challenge, raising the risk of increased insurgent attacks and instability in the region.
Meanwhile in Pakistan’s Punjab province, the death toll from catastrophic floods has climbed to 52 across 22 districts, according to Muslim Mirror. Entire villages remain submerged, with thousands displaced. Rescue operations continue, but relief is complicated by ongoing rains and infrastructural damage.
