Taliban closes health centers in Nangarhar districts

Monitoring Desk

JALALABAD: The Nangarhar provincial council claimed Tuesday that the Taliban have closed all health centers in five districts of the province over the past several days.

Council members say that the closure of these centers causes huge difficulties for residents.

“The Taliban have closed health centers in Sherzad, Hasarak, Khogyani, Sorkhroad and Lalpor districts,” said Ajmal Omar, a member of the provincial council.

The district’s patients coming to Jalalabad city also confirmed that the Taliban closed health centers in their districts.

“The Taliban and government forces were fighting in our area and our two children got wounded and the Taliban planted mines there and closed health centers so that is why I brought my children here to the city hospital,” said Hakim, a resident of Sherzad district.

“In my area, the hospital is closed and I had a stomach problem and the way (to medical treatment) is long, and I had to leave my school as well,” said Kheyal Mohammad, resident of Hasarak district.

Local officials also confirm the closure of the health centers.

“A number of doctors were facing threats and we did not take any action to avoid further issues but tribal elders had promised us that they will solve the issue,” said AttaullahKhogyani, governor spokesman.

Meanwhile, the Taliban acknowledge the problem and say it was done in response to the closure of health centers by local Nangarhar officials in their areas.

Nangarhar health officials have not commented on the issue.(TOLOnews)