Taliban pledges safety of aid agencies in fighting Covid-19

Aid
Kabul, March 18, 2020 (dpa/NAN) Health care workers who come to Afghanistan to help in the fight against the novel coronavirus will receive safe passage, promised the Taliban on Wednesday.

The insurgent group is urging international humanitarian and health agencies to provide medicine, aid and other needed equipment to areas under their control.

Taliban says the virus is a God-made scourge sent in response to humans’ sins.

It has asked people to pray, recite the Koran, give alms and observe all precautions instructed by health agencies.

In 2019, the Taliban imposed a ban on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), alleging the two organizations were conducting “suspicious” activities. The group later revoked its bans.

On Tuesday, EU special envoy for Afghanistan Roland Kobia called for a full ceasefire in view of the growing threat of the virus.

“Everyone has the right to be helped against #coronavirus.

“To be better helped, first measures should be: full ceasefire, stop taxing humanitarian aid, ensure full access & safety, coordinate & cooperate with Government,” Kobia said, an apparent message to the Taliban.

Welcoming the statement, Waheed Omer, a senior aide to President Ashraf Ghani, also called on militants to stop attacks and allow health workers to reach vulnerable areas.

“There are reports of Taliban causing problems to health services in some areas of Afghanistan,” Omar tweeted on Wednesday. “It should be stopped immediately.”

The country has 22 confirmed cases of Covid-19, all of them imported from neighbouring Iran.

Thousands of Afghans cross that border daily, making it the main area of concern in the health crisis. (dpa/NAN)
FAT/ABI
=======
Edited by Fatima Sule/Ali Baba-Inuwa