UNICEF Warns Over 212,000 Afghan Children at Risk of Disease in Quake-Hit Regions
UNICEF has warned that more than 212,000 children in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces recently devastated by a powerful earthquake are now at risk of contracting severe diarrhea and other life-threatening diseases caused by contaminated water.
According to the UN agency, families displaced by the quake have been forced to spend nights outdoors without shelter, food, or access to sanitation. Khaled, a 12-year-old boy from one of the affected areas, said his family escaped their home just moments before it collapsed and survived without any assistance for days until they learned about nearby tent camps.
Over the past month, UNICEF and its partners have intensified their efforts to deliver safe drinking water, install emergency toilets separately for men and women, distribute hygiene kits, and raise health awareness. These measures aim to mitigate deadly disease outbreaks and preserve the dignity of families impacted by the earthquake.
Despite some efforts to meet the immediate needs of local residents, the situation remains critical, and an effective response requires increased cooperation from international organizations.
The Taliban’s silence and ineffective crisis management have exacerbated the public health and humanitarian crisis. The international community must urgently step in to protect the lives of Afghan children.
