KABUL (Agencies): The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report released that 45.1 percent of cases of acute respiratory infections in Afghanistan involve children.
Since October 2022, of the total 4,353,661 ARI cases reported, representing 13.3 percent of the total population of Afghanistan, 45.1 percent have afflicted children under five years of age, the report said.
In addition, ARI cases have increased since 2022 compared to the average of the previous three years.
The report also said that in the last month of February, over 828,000 ARI cases were newly reported.
Afghanistan experienced one of the coldest winters this year in decades.
WHO’s report said that following emergencies, an estimated 17 percent of impacted adults experience mild to moderate psychological disorders, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Decades of conflict and instability have left many Afghans vulnerable to mental health problems, which are risk factors for drug abuse, the report said.
WHO: 45% of ARI cases involve children under 5
