More than 500 tons of medical supplies unable to reach Afghanistan due to Kabul airport chaos – WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that vital medical supplies aren't making their way to the people who need it in Afghanistan because of challenges accessing Kabul airport following the Taliban takeover.
On Monday, WHO regional emergency director Dr Richard Brennan said that more help was needed to reach the people left behind in Afghanistan as the eyes of the world are on the chaotic evacuation effort.
Brennan claimed, in an emailed statement to Reuters, that the WHO had been calling for empty planes to transit via the UN body's warehouse in Dubai to pick up key supplies while on their way to evacuate people from Afghanistan.
He noted that the US was using commercial planes for evacuations and that Washington and NATO coalition partners informed him that these aircraft could not collect supplies en route to Kabul due to "operational constraints and security concerns."
The WHO official added that the agency had been told to explore other options, including Kandahar, Jalalabad and Bagram air bases. "We do not yet have aircraft to fly even to those bases," Brennan stated.
Brennan told Reuters that more than 500 tons of medical supplies, including surgical equipment and severe malnutrition kits which were readied for delivery to Afghanistan this week, were not going to reach Kabul because of these challenges, and restrictions at the capital's airport.
Nearly half of the country's 38 million people rely on aid, according to the WHO, and Brennan warned that humanitarian needs are expected to grow due to drought. It is understood that some 300,000 people have been displaced over the past two months, as the Taliban retook the country from the Western-backed government in Kabul.
Brennan claimed, in an emailed statement to Reuters, that the WHO had been calling for empty planes to transit via the UN body's warehouse in Dubai to pick up key supplies while on their way to evacuate people from Afghanistan.
He noted that the US was using commercial planes for evacuations and that Washington and NATO coalition partners informed him that these aircraft could not collect supplies en route to Kabul due to "operational constraints and security concerns."
The WHO official added that the agency had been told to explore other options, including Kandahar, Jalalabad and Bagram air bases. "We do not yet have aircraft to fly even to those bases," Brennan stated.
Brennan told Reuters that more than 500 tons of medical supplies, including surgical equipment and severe malnutrition kits which were readied for delivery to Afghanistan this week, were not going to reach Kabul because of these challenges, and restrictions at the capital's airport.
Nearly half of the country's 38 million people rely on aid, according to the WHO, and Brennan warned that humanitarian needs are expected to grow due to drought. It is understood that some 300,000 people have been displaced over the past two months, as the Taliban retook the country from the Western-backed government in Kabul.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.