The Lingering Tragedy: Afghanistan's Unending Cycle Of Death

Do people still die in Afghanistan? The short answer is yes. The war in Afghanistan has incurred staggering costs in terms of human lives—for the United States, Afghans, and others. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, military personnel, contractors, and opposition fighters. Even after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, civilians continue to be caught in the crossfire and remain vulnerable to violence, displacement, malnutrition, and a lack of access to healthcare and infrastructure.

The US war in Afghanistan has destroyed the economy, public health, security, and infrastructure

The US war in Afghanistan has had a devastating impact on the country's economy, public health, security, and infrastructure.

Economy

The US war in Afghanistan has severely impacted the country's economy, leaving it as one of the most depressed economies in the world. The war has resulted in a shortage of food and money, with half of Afghanistan's population facing hunger. The country's economy is highly dependent on foreign aid, which has led to a situation where health and education services, as well as the government's budget, are mostly reliant on foreign aid. The war has also disrupted local businesses and led to a sharp contraction and reconfiguration of the Afghan economy. The country has lost access to the international banking system and offshore foreign exchange reserves, further exacerbating the economic crisis. The war has also had a negative impact on investment and interest rates in the US, with higher borrowing rates and a rise in the national debt.

Public Health

The war has also taken a toll on public health in Afghanistan. The conflict has led to an increase in malnutrition and food insecurity, with 92% of the population facing some level of food insecurity and 3 million children at risk of acute malnutrition. The war has also disrupted access to clean drinking water and healthcare, leading to elevated rates of disease. Mental health has also been affected, with two-thirds of Afghans suffering from mental health issues.

Security

The security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated due to the war. The country has witnessed a resurgence of the Taliban and other insurgent groups, resulting in increased violence and instability. The war has also led to a breakdown of law and order, with a rise in criminal activities and human rights abuses. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan has further exacerbated the security situation, leaving a vacuum that has been filled by the Taliban and other extremist groups.

Infrastructure

The war has severely damaged Afghanistan's infrastructure, with many buildings, roads, and bridges destroyed or in disrepair. The country's agricultural and subsistence economy has been impacted, with higher prices, reduced demand, lower employment, and disruptions to services. The war has also disrupted basic services such as education and healthcare, leading to a decline in the overall quality of life for Afghans.

There has been a dramatic increase in civilian casualties since the US relaxed its rules of engagement for airstrikes in Afghanistan

The US war in Afghanistan has had a devastating impact on the lives of Afghans, with the economy, public health, security, and infrastructure all suffering as a result. The war has also left Afghans vulnerable to the effects of previous wars, with unexploded ordnance and landmines continuing to kill and injure civilians.

In 2017, the US military relaxed its rules of engagement for airstrikes in Afghanistan, which resulted in a dramatic increase in civilian casualties. From the last year of the Obama administration to the last full year of recorded data during the Trump administration, the number of civilians killed by US-led airstrikes in Afghanistan increased by 330%. This change in rules allowed the US to strike at Taliban targets even if they were not in proximity to any NATO or Afghan forces. It also allowed more US operatives to be embedded with Afghan forces, permitting them to authorise more airstrikes.

The CIA has also armed and funded Afghan militia groups, who have been implicated in grave human rights abuses and the extrajudicial killing of civilians.

In total, about 243,000 people have been killed in the Afghanistan/Pakistan warzone since 2001. More than 70,000 of those killed have been civilians.

The war has also inflicted invisible wounds, with two-thirds of Afghans reported to be suffering from mental health problems in 2009. The war has exacerbated the effects of poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, lack of access to healthcare, and environmental degradation on Afghans' health.

The CIA has armed Afghan militia groups, who are responsible for serious human rights abuses and the killings of civilians

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been accused of arming and funding Afghan militia groups who are responsible for serious human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killings of civilians. These groups, which have been operating since the 2001 invasion, are said to have committed war crimes with impunity.

The CIA's counterterrorism operation in Afghanistan is distinct from the US military operation and has continued to recruit, equip, train, and deploy Afghan paramilitary forces to fight Islamist militants. The CIA-backed forces do not fall under the ordinary chain of command within the National Directorate of Security (NDS), nor under normal Afghan or US military chains of command. Instead, they are recruited, trained, equipped, and overseen by the CIA and have US special forces personnel, primarily Army Rangers, deployed alongside them.

Human Rights Watch documented 14 cases from late 2017 to mid-2019 in which CIA-backed Afghan strike forces committed serious abuses, including extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, indiscriminate airstrikes, and attacks on medical facilities. In one case, a strike force unit raided a home in the Rodat district of Nangarhar province, shooting dead five civilian members of one family, including an elderly woman and a child. In another incident, a strike force unit killed 11 men in the eastern province of Paktia in August 2019. While the NDS claimed that 11 militants were killed in a raid on a Taliban hideout, villagers and a local politician stated that the victims included students celebrating Eid and other innocent civilians.

The CIA-backed forces have also been allowed to call in airstrikes, which has likely contributed to the rising number of civilian casualties in the war. A dramatic increase in civilian casualties from US air operations may be attributed to changes in tactical directives that eliminated measures intended to reduce civilian harm, such as restrictions on striking residential buildings.

The Afghan government has been criticized for its lack of capacity and political will to investigate incidents involving these paramilitary forces. A diplomat familiar with strike force operations referred to them as "death squads." The CIA has denied these allegations, stating that they conduct their operations "in accordance with law and under a robust system of oversight."

Unexploded ordnance and landmines continue to kill and injure civilians, especially children

Afghanistan is one of the countries most affected by injuries and deaths due to landmines and unexploded ordnance. Even in the absence of fighting, these weapons continue to kill and injure civilians, with children being particularly vulnerable. Between January 2022 and June 2023, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recorded that 640 children were killed or injured in 541 incidents involving landmine explosions and explosive remnants, accounting for nearly 60% of total civilian casualties due to unexploded ordnance (UXO) incidents.

Children are often the victims of fatal or life-changing injuries caused by unintentionally stepping on landmines or picking up UXO in places they stay, play, or do household chores. For example, seven-year-old Omar and his friends found an odd object in a field while gathering fodder for their cattle in May 2023. The object exploded, killing Omar's nine-year-old brother and severely injuring Omar, who lost his right leg and sustained abdominal wounds.

According to the ICRC, areas that were previously used as military bases or sites of armed conflict have been contaminated by abandoned or unexploded weapons. With the decrease in fighting, civilians who had fled their homes are now returning and travelling to previously inaccessible areas, unknowingly exposing themselves to the risk of encountering UXO.

The types of explosive remnants that constitute UXO include bombs, grenades, missiles, rockets, and mortar or artillery shells. These devices contain explosive materials within a metal shell and can be found on the ground or partially buried. While some ordnance is stable, others are sensitive to vibration and can easily detonate.

The impact of UXO and landmines extends beyond injuries and deaths. They reduce the amount of usable land for living, grazing, and agriculture, leading to economic depression, unemployment, housing scarcity, and increased malnutrition and disease. Additionally, roads to agricultural fields, healthcare facilities, and schools may be blocked due to the presence of these explosives.

To address the issue of weapon contamination, the ICRC has implemented programmes to raise public awareness about the risks and dangers of landmines and UXO. They conduct training for volunteers, collect incident data, distribute educational materials, and provide financial assistance to affected families. However, the decrease in funding from donor states and organizations has hindered efforts to clear landmines and UXO, emphasizing the need for continued international support.

The war has exacerbated the effects of poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, and lack of access to healthcare

The war in Afghanistan has had a devastating impact on the country, exacerbating existing issues of poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, and inadequate healthcare.

Poverty

Afghanistan was already a poor country before the war began in 2001, and the conflict has only served to worsen the situation. The war has led to a breakdown of the economy, with 92% of the population facing food insecurity and about half living on less than $1.90 per day. The gap between the rich and the poor has widened, with the poorest 20% experiencing a decline in household consumption while lacking access to jobs and basic services. The war has also disrupted agricultural production, a vital sector that employs most of the country's poor. As a result, poverty rates have increased, with almost 60% of the population living below the poverty line by the end of 2021.

Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a significant issue in Afghanistan, with millions of children affected. The war has disrupted food supplies and led to a lack of access to nutritious foods. According to UNICEF, 4 out of 10 children under five in Afghanistan are stunted due to poor diets and food insecurity. The situation is even more dire in times of natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, which further limit access to nutritious foods. The lack of access to healthy, nutritious foods has severe consequences for children's health and development, increasing their risk of infections, poor brain development, and even death.

Poor Sanitation

The war has also contributed to poor sanitation and hygiene conditions in Afghanistan. Lack of access to safe drinking water is prevalent, with only 40.3% of poor people having access to it. This has led to elevated rates of disease and contributed to the spread of infections. Additionally, the contamination of land with unexploded ordnance from the war poses a significant risk to civilians, causing injuries and deaths, especially among children.

Lack of Access to Healthcare

The war has severely impacted the healthcare system in Afghanistan. Hospitals and healthcare facilities have come under attack, and the limited resources available have been stretched thin due to the high number of war wounded. The war has also led to a shortage of healthcare professionals, with many being forced to supplement their income by working in private clinics. The destruction of infrastructure has made it difficult for those in need of medical care to reach hospitals and clinics, especially in rural areas. As a result, many Afghans lack access to basic healthcare services, contributing to the high rates of disease and malnutrition in the country.

The war in Afghanistan has had far-reaching consequences, exacerbating the issues of poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation, and inadequate healthcare. The impact of these issues is felt most severely by the most vulnerable members of society, including children and those living in poverty. Efforts to address these issues are crucial to improving the health and well-being of the Afghan people.

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