The Human Toll In Afghanistan: A Devastating Cost

Since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, hundreds of thousands of people have died as a direct or indirect result of the war. The death toll includes civilians, Afghan national military and police, US contractors, American service members, and Taliban and other opposition fighters. The war has also caused the breakdown of the economy, public health, security, and infrastructure in Afghanistan, leading to high rates of poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, and lack of access to healthcare. These factors, along with the ongoing violence, continue to put the lives of Afghans at risk.

Malnutrition and famine

Afghanistan has long struggled with poverty and food insecurity, with 92% of the population facing some level of food insecurity. The situation has been compounded by poor transport infrastructure, conflict, and a lack of access to healthcare and medicine. As a result, malnutrition rates in the country are extremely high, with children and mothers being the most vulnerable.

Causes of Malnutrition

The primary cause of malnutrition in Afghanistan is a lack of access to food due to poverty and food insecurity. This is driven by various factors, including conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and the collapse of the Afghan economy following the Taliban takeover in August 2021. The economic collapse led to soaring food prices and unemployment, with many families surviving on bread and water for weeks at a time. Additionally, recurrent infections, such as measles and respiratory infections, further contribute to malnutrition, especially in children.

Cultural practices and a lack of knowledge about good diets also play a role in malnutrition. For example, only half of Afghan babies are exclusively breastfed in their first six months, and most do not consume any fruit or vegetables. Early-age marriages and a lack of family planning also contribute to the problem.

Impact of Malnutrition

Malnutrition has severe consequences for the health and development of children. Undernutrition can blunt the intellect, sap productivity, and perpetuate poverty. It increases the risk of contracting diseases and makes it less likely for children to receive basic healthcare. Malnutrition also affects mothers, who may become malnourished during pregnancy, leading to anaemia and problems with breastfeeding.

Efforts to Address Malnutrition

Organizations like the United Nations and UNICEF have implemented various initiatives to address malnutrition in Afghanistan. These include nutritional programs, awareness campaigns, and the creation of permanent multisector food security and nutrition coordinating bodies. UNICEF has also provided funding for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, which offers aid to lactating mothers and educates them on the importance of breastfeeding. However, the Taliban's restrictive policies towards women, including banning them from working and attending university, have hindered these efforts.

The current situation in Afghanistan demands urgent attention and a coordinated response from the international community to prevent further deterioration and save the lives of millions of children at risk of starvation.

Impact of US withdrawal

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has had a significant impact on the country and its people. Firstly, the withdrawal has led to a power vacuum, with the Taliban taking advantage of the situation to seize control. The Taliban's offensive has resulted in a sharp increase in civilian casualties, with a record number of women and children killed or wounded in the first half of 2021. The United Nations reported a 47% increase in civilian casualties compared to the same period in 2020, with almost half of the casualties being women and children. The withdrawal has also led to a breakdown of the economy, public health, security, and infrastructure in Afghanistan. The war has left the country massively impoverished, with 92% of the population facing food insecurity and 3 million children at risk of acute malnutrition. The health sector has been particularly affected, with many healthcare workers fleeing due to unpaid salaries.

The US withdrawal has also had political implications for Afghanistan. The government in Kabul has lost influence and legitimacy, and the Taliban has lost interest in negotiating peace. The withdrawal has emboldened extremist groups, giving them more scope to organize, recruit, and initiate terrorist attacks. The scattering of the Afghan National Army's inventory has also provided terrorist groups with access to advanced weapons, which will likely flood the international black market. Additionally, the power vacuum has led to a geopolitical free-for-all, with outside powers seeking to increase their influence in the country.

The US withdrawal has also had consequences for American foreign policy and national security. President Biden has faced criticism for his handling of the withdrawal, with many Americans believing that the exit was mishandled and that there was a lack of a clear plan for evacuating US civilians. The withdrawal has also intensified concerns about the threat of terrorism and national security, as extremist groups gain a stronger foothold in Afghanistan.

Overall, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan has had far-reaching impacts on the country and the region. The Taliban's offensive has led to a sharp rise in civilian casualties, and the breakdown of essential services has left the population vulnerable to disease, malnutrition, and poverty. The power vacuum has also created opportunities for extremist groups and outside powers to exert influence, with potential consequences for regional stability and global security.

Taliban offensive

The Taliban offensive of 2021 was a military offensive by the Taliban insurgent group and its allies that led to the fall of the Kabul-based Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the end of the nearly 20-year-long War in Afghanistan. The offensive began on May 1, 2021, coinciding with the withdrawal of US and other international troops from Afghanistan.

Factors that contributed to the Taliban's success:

• The Taliban's effective use of online social media to spread propaganda and win over people.
• The Taliban's strategic choice of attacking northern provinces, which were less defended.
• The Taliban's freedom of movement on the main Afghan highways, which allowed them to regroup and strengthen their supply lines.
• The drop in US support for the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in February 2020 and April 2021, which removed technical, software, and logistical support that the ANSF had been trained to depend on.
• Errors in the US coalition's training of the ANSF, including a focus on high-tech military models that relied heavily on aerial support.
• Cronyism in ANSF military appointments and President Ashraf Ghani's inability to create an effective national consensus.
• Local warlords' lack of confidence in national-level political leadership, which contributed to their willingness to negotiate with or surrender to the Taliban.

Timeline of the Taliban offensive:

• May 2021: The Taliban captures 15 districts from the Afghan government, including Nirkh and Jalrez in Maidan Wardak Province, and the Dahla Dam in Kandahar Province.
• June 2021: The Taliban captures 69 districts, enters the cities of Kunduz and Puli Khumri, and besieges Mazar-i-Sharif. They also capture Afghanistan's main border crossing with Tajikistan.
• July 2021: The Taliban captures 64 districts and enters Kandahar and Herat, Afghanistan's second and third-largest cities, respectively.
• August 6, 2021: The Taliban launches an assault on provincial capitals, with most towns surrendering without a fight.
• August 13, 2021: The Taliban wins weeks-long battles in the major cities of Herat, Kandahar, and Lashkargah.
• August 15, 2021: President Ashraf Ghani flees the country, and the Taliban captures the Afghan capital of Kabul with only sporadic resistance.

The speed of the Taliban's takeover came as a surprise to many, including the US government and its allies, as well as the Taliban themselves. The offensive resulted in a sharp increase in civilian casualties and targeted killings, with the United Nations documenting a record number of women and children killed or wounded in the first half of 2021.

Unexploded ordnance

Afghanistan is one of the countries most affected by injuries and deaths due to landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). These include grenades, bombs, mortar shells, and cluster munitions. According to the United Nations, there are 150 landmine and UXO casualties per month in Afghanistan, with eight out of ten casualties being children who inadvertently pick up the ordnance, some of which are made to resemble toys.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been running a rehabilitation program in Afghanistan since 1988, treating over 177,000 people, including more than 46,000 amputees, at its centers across the country. The ICRC reports that among the amputees registered, 77% were landmine victims and 70% of those were civilians.

The harm caused by unexploded ordnance is not limited to direct injuries and deaths. It also impedes the return of civilians to their homes, as seen in the case of Arghandab, where landmines prevented civilians from returning to their volatile homes. Additionally, demining and UXO clearance operations are extremely hazardous, putting personnel at significant risk of serious injury or death.

To address these issues, the U.S. Department of Defense has a humanitarian mine action program, supported by the Afghanistan Ordnance Identification Guide. This guide provides information to facilitate international UXO awareness and identification, helping personnel identify ordnance in the absence of trained Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) military professionals.

Impact on women and children

The impact of the conflict in Afghanistan on women and children has been devastating. Women and children have comprised 46% of civilian casualties in the country, with a record number killed or wounded in the first half of 2021. This is due in part to the Taliban's offensive to take territory from government forces, as well as the withdrawal of international military forces. The conflict has also exacerbated existing issues such as poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, lack of access to healthcare, and environmental degradation.

Women and girls in Afghanistan face extreme situations of violence and abuse due to ongoing fighting, displacement, a poor economy, and harmful social norms and practices. They are at risk of honour killings, domestic abuse, sexual violence, and early marriage. The economic crisis has also led to an increase in child labour, with families sending their daughters out to work or arranging marriages for them to ease financial burdens.

The health care system in Afghanistan is on the brink of collapse, with hundreds of thousands of infants and new and expectant mothers facing limited access to medical care. The breakdown of water services in urban settings has halved water availability and increased contamination, affecting 8 out of 10 Afghans. Malnutrition is a significant issue, with 3.2 million children expected to suffer from acute malnutrition by the end of 2021 and 1 million at risk of dying as temperatures drop. Measles cases are also rising, and for malnourished children, this is a death sentence.

Education has been severely impacted by the conflict, with girls in particular losing access to schools. This has been exacerbated by attacks on schools and villages, as well as the withdrawal of international support. It is feared that 1 million children will miss out on education, and that prolonged school closures will result in children, especially girls, not returning to complete their education.

The conflict in Afghanistan has had a disproportionate impact on women and children, and their needs continue to grow. It is critical that lifesaving services for women and children are maintained and that the international community recognises the urgency of the situation and pushes for unfettered humanitarian access.

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