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Ammon News - Health facilities across Afghanistan, which are supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), are experiencing critical shortages in medical supplies, said Luo Dapeng WHO Country Representative.

In a virtual press conference Tuesday held by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Luo explained that the organization has made several assessments to review the health situation on the ground. The assessments revealed that service delivery is being supported by the Taliban without any pressure on health staff, who have been called to return to/remain at their posts, he added.

Luo warned of overcrowding among displaced people, which has limited infection prevention measures and increased the risk of transmission of different type of infections, including COVID-19. The country has already gone through three substantial waves of coronavirus. "We are concerned that a new spike among displaced people could lead to further transmission across cities due to a very low vaccination rate with only 5% of the population being vaccinated so far," the official noted.

Additionally, "There is an urgent need for reproductive/child health services, mental health services, mosquito nets and hygiene kits for newly displaced people. Nutrition supplements are needed to address rising malnutrition among children, especially those affected by conflict," Luo underlined.

He called on all parties to respect the neutrality of health and ensure critical health activities are not disturbed, in addition to allowing sustained and unimpeded access for supplies to enter the country, so that the organization can keep health facilities functioning and health services available for all.

Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, stated that the organization now only has enough supplies in-country to last for one week.

In cooperation with UNICEF, the WHO made a request to the international community to support the delivery of humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan through the immediate establishment of a reliable and robust humanitarian airbridge to send in supplies. He stressed that the WHO is fully committed to staying and delivering its services in Afghanistan.