Drought threatens Afghanistan while the International community stands aside

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) recently warned that the onset of drought in many of Afghanistan’s provinces spells further deterioration of health conditions. The UN agency appealed for an added $3.8 million dollars in order to fight against the spread of disease and malnutrition, likely to be exacerbated by the drought as well as the persistent conflict. This was the second request for additional funding as there was no commitment made by the international community in response to the last appeal.

Afghanistan’s child health indicators, measured by infant and maternal mortality rates and the mortality rate for children under five, rank among the worst in the world. Despite collaboration among UN agencies such as UNICEF, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the humanitarian aid efforts must be bulwarked in order to meet the needs of the dispossessed populations, while Afghanistan rebuilds its infrastructures and sets up the necessary systems for sustainable development.

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