Taliban sound alarm over coronavirus in Afghanistan
Militants help health workers and raise awareness among civilians
Civil society activists wearing face masks prepare for a campaign to raise awareness of the new coronavirus in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
Afghans show their national IDs as they wait to cross into Afghanistan after Pakistani authorities closed the border at Chaman, Pakistan. EPA
Hospital staff wear hazmet suits inside the coronavirus center in Kandahar, Afghanistan. EPA
Afghan boys wearing face masks walk at a down town street in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
Afghanistan Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz gives a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
Men walk past Afghan's trucks parked along a road near the closed Pakistan-Afghanistan border amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, in Torkham some 54 kms from Peshahwar. AFP
Afhan trucks line up as they wait to cross the Pakistan-Afghanistan closed amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, in Torkham some 54 kms fron Peshawar. AFPMAJEED
A Pakistani soldier stands guard at Pak-Afghan border after it was closed due to coronavirus, in Chaman, Pakistan. EPA
A man walks past at an empty bus terminal near the closed Pakistan-Afghanistan border amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, in Torkham some 54 kms from Peshahwar. AFP
Afghanistan's Taliban insurgents have voiced concern about the coronavirus's spread in government prisons and are organising monitoring and awareness camps in areas under their control.
“There are about 40,000 people living in prisons run by the Kabul administration where there are no hygiene or healthcare facilities, making it a serious threat," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Sunday.
"This virus can spread very easily in such conditions. If something goes wrong, it will be the responsibility of the Kabul government.”
Afghan had detected 21 cases of Covid-19 infections as of Monday, none of them fatal. The coronavirus has infected about 175,000 people worldwide and killed nearly 7,000.
The Taliban spokesman urged international organisations and agencies to help prevent an outbreak in prisons and also asked its jailed members to follow the World Health Organisation guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Taliban, who control about half of the country, had banned operations by the WHO and the Red Cross in April last year because of their “suspicious activities”.
Sergeant Jay Kenney, 26, with the 101st Airborne Division, Task Force Destiny, assists wounded Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers off the Blackhawk UH-60A helicopter after they were rescued in an air mission in Kandahar on December 12, 2010 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Getty Images
An Afghan Northern Alliance fighter mans the front line against the Taliban on October 2, 2001 near Jabul os Sarache, 30 miles north of Kabul. Getty Images
Abdullah Abdullah, chief executive of Afghanistan travelling via helicopter for the final campaign rally in Bamiyan, Afghanistan on September 25, 2019. Afghans will head to the polls on Saturday, September 28th. Getty Images
Mustafa Tamanna, 10, son of Afghan reporter Zabihullah Tamanna, weeps during the funeral ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan on June 7, 2016. Tamanna was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by the Taliban. Getty Images
Northern Alliance soldiers come back from the front line after a battle near Charatoy town in the north of Afghanistan on October 10, 2001. REUTERS
A Northern Alliance fighter throwing rocks as part of a popular national game yards away from a multiple Grad missile launcher in October 12, 2001 in the Salang Gorge in Northern Afghanistan. Getty Images
A French soldier from the 7th Mountain Regiment, part of the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) stands on a boulder overlooking Kabul during a patrol August 3, 2002 in Afghanistan. The ISAF has been patrolling Kabul since January 2002, working with the government and a new police force to prevent the violence and lawlessness that threatened to engulf the city after a U.S.-led coalition forced the Taliban from power. Getty Images
US Marine Sgt. Jerry Brown (L) of Jacksonville, North Carolina watches over a weapons cache found during a patrol near the American military compound at Kandahar Airport in January 16, 2002 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The Marines recovered mortars, rockets, rocket-propelled grenades and artillery rounds discovered in various caches near the base while on the patrol. Getty Images)
Members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry patrol through poppy fields in the village of Markhanai in May 6, 2002 in the Tora Bora valley region of Afghanistan. Getty Images
The United States and Britain on October 7, 2001 launched a first wave of air strikes against Afghanistan. President George W. Bush said the action heralded a "sustained, comprehensive and relentless" campaign against terrorism. REUTERS
A young Afghan girl eats a piece of bread at the Chaman refugee camp on November 8, 2001 on the Pakistan border with Afghanistan. The UNHCR has estimated that since September 11, 2001 over 135,000 Afghans have crossed the border into Pakistan, adding to the already millions of refugees living in the country. Getty Images
Afghan opposition Northern Alliance soldiers leap over a trench as they return from front line positions after battle near the town of Charatoy in the north of Afghanistan October 10, 2001. REUTERS
An Afghan child peeks out from the doorway of his family's home as a US Army soldier from the 101st Airborne stands guard in the eastern Afghan village of Hesarak on July 16, 2002 during what the Army refers to as a 'sensitive site exploitation' mission or 'SSE'. Getty Images
Fred Perry, a British Royal Engineer soldier, reads the book "Black Hawk Down" inside his tent after a day of work on January 29, 2002 at the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) barracks at the Kabul airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images
Afghan soldiers (L) speak to a local Afghan, while a medic in the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, Charlie Company (R) monitors a soldier who has just survived a blast from an improvised explosive device (IED) while driving a vehicle during a mission near Command Outpost Pa'in Kalay, on March 19, 2013 in Kandahar Province, Maiwand District, Afghanistan. Getty Images
Marines on a light armored vehicle prepare for patrol as an AH1W "Super Cobra" helicopter flies by on December 28, 2001 at the U.S. Marine Corps Base in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Getty Images
A Norwegian ISAF (International Security Assistance Force)soldier from Recce Squadron 3 patrols on October 4, 2004 in Kabul, Afghanistan as election officials get ready for the Presidential elections. Getty Images
Interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai (L) is greeted by a group of Afghan military officers on his arrival to Kandahar airbase on May 04, 2002 in Southern Afghanistan. Getty Images
Soldiers in the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division wade though a creek to avoid buried insurgent bombs while on patrol October 16, 2010 in Zhari district west of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Getty Images
British commandos descend from a mountain observation post overlooking the beginning of the Helmand River at the Kajaki hydroelectric dam on March 13, 2007 in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. Getty Images
101st Airbornes 1st Sgt. Kerry Black from Westmoreland, Tennessee uses an Afghan child's sling shot on February 6, 2002 as children crowd around him while he patrols on the outskirts of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Getty Images
Marine Cpl. Jonathan Eckert of Oak Lawn, IL attached to India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment works his improvised explosive device (IED) sniffing dog Bee as they secure a compound during a patrol near Forward Operating Base (FOB) Zeebrugge on October 11, 2010 in Kajaki, Afghanistan. Getty Images
Afghan refugees walk across the border into Pakistan on October 11, 2001 as they leave Afghanistan at the Chaman crossing point on the 4th day of U.S.-led air strikes against the ruling Taliban and terrorist networks in the country. Getty Images
Anti-Taliban Afghan fighters watch several explosions from U.S. bombings in the Tora Bora mountains in Afghanistan on December 16, 2001.
British Marines run under fire from the Taliban during a morning operation on March 18, 2007 near Kajaki in the Afghan province of Helmand. Getty Images
Afghan Army troops prepare to board a British chinook helicopter from their base at Shorabak on March 12, 2007 in Southern Helmand province, Afghanistan. Getty Images
British Marine Joe Harvey from Stafford, England (R), watches as British forces come under fire by Taliban insurgents on March 18, 2007 near Kajaki in the Afghan province of Helmand. Getty Images
U.S. Army 101st Airborne 3-187 "Bravo" company soliders pass through a corn field while conducting a sensitive site exploitation (SSE) mission July 23, 2002 near the town of Narizah in Southeastern Afghanistan. Getty Images
Scouts from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), pull overwatch during Operation Destined Strike while 2nd Platoon, Able Company searches a village below the Chowkay Valley in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on August 22, 2006. US Army
They later lifted the ban on the Red Cross but did not specify whether their “security guarantee” extended to the WHO.
Dr Waheedullah Mayar, a spokesman for Afghanistan's Health Ministry, said it was working to protect prisoners and Afghans across the country.
“We even provide health services in insurgent-controlled areas to their children and women, and we will continue to do so,” Dr Mayar said.
At least 37 people suspected of being infected with the coronavirus broke out a government quarantine centre in Herat province on Monday.
“They broke the windows of the facility and beat up the doctors. The police also didn’t help us,” Dr Mayar said.
”We are calling on elders, religious leaders, the media and public to help us implement healthcare policies and procedures in this time of crisis."
Concerns about the virus appear to have temporarily overshadowed the Taliban's dispute with the government over the release of 5,000 of its members.
The release was part of a peace deal agreed to between the US and the insurgents, and a condition for the start of direct talks with Kabul.
A Taliban commander the northern province of Samangam told The National that their leadership was very concerned about the pandemic.
“The Taliban are very serious about this sickness and our fighters are co-operating with public health centres and assisting doctors,” the commander said.
“We are asking all returning refugees and those coming from outside the country to get themselves checked.
"There was one suspicious case here and we made him get checked for the coronavirus. Thankfully, he tested negative."
In the northern Balkh province, the Taliban “arrested” a runaway patient who tested positive for coronavirus.
They handed him back to health authorities, Mr Mujahid said.
"Ahmad", 35, a teacher from a northern area controlled by the Taliban, said the militants were trying to raise awareness about coronavirus.
“Yesterday the Taliban commanders held a gathering in our area to talk about the coronavirus and asked elders to take precautions against its spread,” Ahmad said.
Dr Mayar confirmed that the Taliban were supporting government health workers in distributing services to insurgent-controlled areas.
He said the Health Ministry was offering direct services in only three provinces – Panjshir, Parwan and Kapisa.
"The rest is done through partner NGOs and private health workers who serve in government and insurgent-controlled areas," Dr Mayar said.
"Taliban in those areas have been supportive of these health workers."
But the coronavirus threat has not stopped the Taliban from continuing attacks.
“They are holding awareness gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus but they are also fighting just like before," Ahmad said.
"They attacked a police checkpost on Saturday and killed the police commander and injured another. Our situation has not changed.”
