• Latest
  • Trending

Multiplicity of wounds inflicted on Afghanistan

May 18, 2020
Image credits - Timothy Newman / Unsplash

Biden launched airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Syria to “send a message”

February 26, 2021
Image credits - Slash Gear

Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

February 26, 2021
Image credits - Joshua Sukoff / Unsplash

Biden discussed renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen with Saudi King Salman

February 26, 2021
Lankan Prez lays his cards on the table in Independence Day oration

Sri Lanka seeks $2.2 bn from China as reserves shrink

February 26, 2021
Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

February 26, 2021
Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: Twitter)

India rout England in two-day spin mayhem in Ahmedabad

February 26, 2021
Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

Brazil to buy 20 million COVID-19 vaccines from India’s Bharat Biotech

February 26, 2021
Background to Lanka’s decision to lift ban on burying COVID dead

Background to Lanka’s decision to lift ban on burying COVID dead

February 26, 2021
COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka finally allows burial of Covid-19 victims

February 25, 2021
UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

February 25, 2021
Wang Yi and Dinesh Gunawardena show commonality of views on major issues

Wang Yi and Dinesh Gunawardena show commonality of views on human rights

February 25, 2021
Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

February 25, 2021
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Friday, February 26, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Lankan Prez lays his cards on the table in Independence Day oration

    Sri Lanka seeks $2.2 bn from China as reserves shrink

    Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

    China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

    Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: Twitter)

    India rout England in two-day spin mayhem in Ahmedabad

    Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

    Brazil to buy 20 million COVID-19 vaccines from India’s Bharat Biotech

    Background to Lanka’s decision to lift ban on burying COVID dead

    Background to Lanka’s decision to lift ban on burying COVID dead

    COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka finally allows burial of Covid-19 victims

    UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    Wang Yi and Dinesh Gunawardena show commonality of views on major issues

    Wang Yi and Dinesh Gunawardena show commonality of views on human rights

    Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

    Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
    Image credits - Timothy Newman / Unsplash

    Biden launched airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Syria to “send a message”

    Image credits - Slash Gear

    Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

    Image credits - Joshua Sukoff / Unsplash

    Biden discussed renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen with Saudi King Salman

    Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

    Brazil to buy 20 million COVID-19 vaccines from India’s Bharat Biotech

    Image credits - Nathan Dumlao / Unsplash

    Cocaine ‘worth billions’ seized in record Germany and Belgium haul

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Boost for COVID-19 battle, Pfizer vaccine found 94% effective in real world

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, stands on the construction site of the Tesla Gigafactory in Grünheide near Berlin, September 3, 2020. Patrick Pleul | picture alliance | Getty Images

    Musk loses world’s richest title as Tesla falters

    Image credits - Torstensimon

    India sends first vaccine doses to Africa under WHO’s COVAX programme

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Image credits - Steven Cordes / Unsplash

    Gotta catch ’em all: Pandemic sends prices soaring for Pokemon cards

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - AdamBMorgan / big-ashb

    Grammy-winning duo Daft Punk announces split after 28 years

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Image credits - Gullah / Pixabay

    Disney returns to profit as streaming success offsets pandemic-hit parks

    ARO KOTO DIN AMI KHUJECHI TOMAKE II NANDITA II SEYLON MUSIC LOUNGE

    ARO KOTO DIN AMI KHUJECHI TOMAKE II NANDITA II SEYLON MUSIC LOUNGE

    Image credits - Neetu Kapoor / Instagram

    Rajiv Kapoor passes away at 58

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Image credits - Slash Gear

    Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia. Image credits - CDC

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you”

    “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you”

    Swati Mohan spearheaded the attitude control and landing system of the Perseverance rover. (Image: Nasa)

    Swati Mohan, Indian-American scientist who led charge to land Nasa rover on Mars, was inspired by Star Trek as a kid

    Image credits - Luca Rüegg / Unsplash

    NASA’s astrobiology rover Perseverance makes historic Mars landing

    Image credits - Arlington Research / Unsplash

    Pandemic to widen skill gaps as workplaces change, McKinsey says

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

    China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - Nicole de Andrade

    Tech Tips: Signal lets users create groups with up to 1000 members, here is how to create one

    Whatsapp / Pic - India Today

    WhatsApp to switch off messages for all who reject new terms

    Image credits - Solen Feyissa / Unsplash

    Facebook news goes dark in Australia as content spat escalates

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Lankan Prez lays his cards on the table in Independence Day oration

    Sri Lanka seeks $2.2 bn from China as reserves shrink

    Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

    China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

    Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: Twitter)

    India rout England in two-day spin mayhem in Ahmedabad

    Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

    Brazil to buy 20 million COVID-19 vaccines from India’s Bharat Biotech

    Background to Lanka’s decision to lift ban on burying COVID dead

    Background to Lanka’s decision to lift ban on burying COVID dead

    COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka finally allows burial of Covid-19 victims

    UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    Wang Yi and Dinesh Gunawardena show commonality of views on major issues

    Wang Yi and Dinesh Gunawardena show commonality of views on human rights

    Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

    Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
    Image credits - Timothy Newman / Unsplash

    Biden launched airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Syria to “send a message”

    Image credits - Slash Gear

    Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

    Image credits - Joshua Sukoff / Unsplash

    Biden discussed renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen with Saudi King Salman

    Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

    Brazil to buy 20 million COVID-19 vaccines from India’s Bharat Biotech

    Image credits - Nathan Dumlao / Unsplash

    Cocaine ‘worth billions’ seized in record Germany and Belgium haul

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Boost for COVID-19 battle, Pfizer vaccine found 94% effective in real world

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, stands on the construction site of the Tesla Gigafactory in Grünheide near Berlin, September 3, 2020. Patrick Pleul | picture alliance | Getty Images

    Musk loses world’s richest title as Tesla falters

    Image credits - Torstensimon

    India sends first vaccine doses to Africa under WHO’s COVAX programme

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Image credits - Steven Cordes / Unsplash

    Gotta catch ’em all: Pandemic sends prices soaring for Pokemon cards

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - AdamBMorgan / big-ashb

    Grammy-winning duo Daft Punk announces split after 28 years

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Image credits - Gullah / Pixabay

    Disney returns to profit as streaming success offsets pandemic-hit parks

    ARO KOTO DIN AMI KHUJECHI TOMAKE II NANDITA II SEYLON MUSIC LOUNGE

    ARO KOTO DIN AMI KHUJECHI TOMAKE II NANDITA II SEYLON MUSIC LOUNGE

    Image credits - Neetu Kapoor / Instagram

    Rajiv Kapoor passes away at 58

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Image credits - Slash Gear

    Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia. Image credits - CDC

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you”

    “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you”

    Swati Mohan spearheaded the attitude control and landing system of the Perseverance rover. (Image: Nasa)

    Swati Mohan, Indian-American scientist who led charge to land Nasa rover on Mars, was inspired by Star Trek as a kid

    Image credits - Luca Rüegg / Unsplash

    NASA’s astrobiology rover Perseverance makes historic Mars landing

    Image credits - Arlington Research / Unsplash

    Pandemic to widen skill gaps as workplaces change, McKinsey says

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

    China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - Nicole de Andrade

    Tech Tips: Signal lets users create groups with up to 1000 members, here is how to create one

    Whatsapp / Pic - India Today

    WhatsApp to switch off messages for all who reject new terms

    Image credits - Solen Feyissa / Unsplash

    Facebook news goes dark in Australia as content spat escalates

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home Around South Asia Afghanistan

Multiplicity of wounds inflicted on Afghanistan

Unending war, terrorism, food shortages and now the coronavirus have combined to torment Afghanistan

Editor by Editor
May 18, 2020
in Afghanistan, Human Rights, Top Story
Reading Time: 4min read
4 0
Share on WhatsApp

By P.K.Balachandran/Daily Mirror

Over the past few decades, a multiplicity of wounds have been afflicted on Afghanistan by war, terrorism, rising poverty and now the coronavirus.  According to the Watson Institute of Brown University in the US, over 157,000 people have been killed in the Afghan war since 2001. More than 43,000 of these have been civilians.

Recently, 24 people, mostly pregnant women, were killed when unidentified terrorists attacked the maternity ward of a leading hospital in Kabul. Thirty two mourners were killed by a terrorist attack on a funeral of a pro-government para-military commander in Nangarhar.

While the main rebel group, the Taliban, are working towards joining the democratic mainstream following a deal with the US, the Islamic State (ISIS) and the Al Qaida are not. It is possible that the latter groups had carried out these attacks.

The US thinks that the Taliban is not behind the attacks. The US State Department’s statement said: “We note the Taliban have denied any responsibility and condemned both attacks as heinous. The Taliban and the Afghan government should cooperate to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Meanwhile the IS claimed that it was behind a spate of attacks on Monday in Kabul when four bombs, one placed under a garbage bin and the other three by the roadside, went off wounding four civilians, including a child. The Afghan intelligence service said in a statement that it had arrested an IS regional leader  Zia-ul Haq, aka Shaikh Abu Omer Al-Khorasani

The elected Afghan government led by President Ashraf Ghani however considers the Taliban as the culprit and has put the government military on an “offensive mode” against the Taliban. The Afghan government has stopped the release of Taliban prisoners which it had begun earlier as part of an US-Taliban peace deal.  Ghani is under pressure to go against the Taliban. Mohammad Ismail Khan, a prominent member of the Jamiat-e-Islami party and ex-Afghan Mujahideen leader, on Wednesday strongly criticized President Ghani for not pursuing the Taliban militarily as the Taliban “never denounced violence”.

Now, the coronavirus is adding to the casualties in Afghanistan. On May 14, there were 5226 confirmed cases and 132 deaths.

Poverty and Hunger

However, a problem which is equally acute but which is not adequately recognized and addressed is poverty and hunger which are both byproducts of the long war and terrorist violence.

According to “The New Humanitarian”, more than half of the 37 million people in Afghanistan live under the poverty line. Even before the coronavirus pandemic escalated, the UN projected 14 million people could be in crisis or face emergency levels of food insecurity.

Prices have shot through the roof. According to reports from Afghanistan, a kilo of lemons now sells for 400 Afghani (more than US$ 5). Low supplies due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdowns have pushed prices up. The price of wheat has gone up by 15 to 20% in many places. Across eight major markets, the average price of cooking oil increased by 9%, and rice and pulses by 2 to 4%. A resident of Kabul said that only the rich can buy food these days. Others will have to make do with dry bread and dried fruits, local told agency reporters.

Border closure by Pakistan and Central Asian countries and export restrictions in supplier countries have cut supply lines and pushed up food prices in Afghanistan. “If this continues for a prolonged period, the World Food Program (WFP)  expects a serious impact on its international supply chain of vegetable oil, pulses, and specialized nutritious foods,” said Parvathy Ramaswami, the World Food Programme’s deputy country director.  Speaking to “New Humanitarian”, she urged countries to open the borders to allow transport of commercial and humanitarian food supplies.

But Afghans complain that the aid that is coming from abroad or distributed by the Afghan government is being embezzled and spent on luxuries instead of delivering it to the people in need of help. A few days ago, six people including two policemen, were killed and more than a dozen were injured, in what was described as unfair and unequal food distribution. A spokesman of the Ministry of Interior said that protestors clashed with police in Ghor province that led to police firing.

Complaining about unfair practices, the Afghanistan Human Rights Commission Chairperson Shaharzad Akbar said the ones getting food are not the ones most deserving but the ones having good connections with local officials.

Plight of Children

On May 1, Save the Children said in a report that more than seven million children in Afghanistan are at risk of hunger as food prices soar. “At a time when Afghan children need adequate daily nutrition to help strengthen their immune systems to fight the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the price of basic foods is rising under the lockdown, making it harder for families to feed themselves,” the report said.

A third of the population – including 7.3 million children – will face food shortages in April and May due to the current pandemic, the report added.  Many Afghans work as daily laborers. With cities going into lockdown, many people will be forced to choose between staying home hungry or venturing outside to find work, risking infection.

A Pakistani defense and security analyst Ikram Sehgal has written that the international community that has for years sent soldiers, weapons and explosives to Afghanistan should now send wheat, meat and other food items. “But that will not be easy to organize because even when money is available the surrounding countries might not be able to sell much of their own supplies because they have to feed their own population first. With food shortages and hunger riots likely another wave of refugees going into Pakistan or Iran must be prevented at all cost,” Sehgal said.

Displaced And Returnees

Farshid Farzam, Deputy Head of Programs at the German aid agency, Welthungerhilfe, says that food insecurity among returnees and internally displaced people was already rampant before the pandemic. Afghanistan is experiencing a high number of returnees.  More than 138,000 people returned from Iran and Pakistan between January and March 2020. A million had returned earlier.

Most displaced and returnees depend on cash or food aid or for market prices to remain affordably low. Unhygienic and crowded living spaces increase the threat of the coronavirus spreading, aid groups have warned.

“One of the humanitarian implications for IDPs, who already are a vulnerable group with limited coping mechanisms, will be that they are disproportionately affected by COVID-19,” said Elias Hatimi, World Vision’s Afghanistan communications manager. Most IDPs have limited food reserves and almost no savings, which make humanitarian assistance even more necessary, Hatimi added.

However, Afghanistan’s farmers hope for a good harvest this year in May. With heavy snow, followed by rain replenishing water reserves, hopes of ending the food shortage have risen.

END

 

 

 

SendShare14Tweet1ShareShare
Editor

Editor

Recommended Articles

  • All
  • Recommend
COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka finally allows burial of Covid-19 victims

February 25, 2021
Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

February 25, 2021
Contribution of T.B.Jayah to Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations

Contribution of T.B.Jayah to Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations

February 23, 2021
The Bengalis’ pioneering struggle for language rights

The Bengalis’ pioneering struggle for language rights

February 21, 2021
Imran Khan’s climb to the political summit was long and hard

Imran Khan’s climb to the political summit was long and hard

February 20, 2021
Indian Foreign Minister’s visit to Male enhances economic ties with  Maldives

Indian Foreign Minister’s visit to Male enhances economic ties with Maldives

February 20, 2021

Advertorial

  • All
  • Advertorial
Visual and Textual Analysis for Images with Reverse Search Tools

Visual and Textual Analysis for Images with Reverse Search Tools

January 3, 2021

Popular Now

  • UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    21 shares
    Share 8 Tweet 5
  • Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    11 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • Vaccines roll out to public; six centres in Colombo

    11 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • Don’t fall for this simple trick to get your WhatsApp hacked

    116 shares
    Share 100 Tweet 7
  • Sri Lanka finally allows burial of Covid-19 victims

    9 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 2
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2020 NewsIn.Asia - Lovingly maintained by DigitalArc.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States

© 2020 NewsIn.Asia - Lovingly maintained by DigitalArc.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In