Local sources in western Kabul say that hundreds of residents of Dasht-e-Barchi have experienced symptoms of poisoning over the past three days and have sought treatment at local hospitals. According to the sources, headaches, diarrhea, and vomiting are among the symptoms reported by patients.
Local sources added that a significant number of those affected are children. The exact cause of the reported illnesses remains unclear, but some residents said members of their families developed symptoms after using water delivered by tankers in their homes.
One resident of western Kabul told the private Farda News network that all members of his family, including his wife and five children, had become ill, while he was the only one who did not experience the symptoms. He did not provide further information about the possible cause of the incident.
A doctor at one of the local hospitals in western Kabul also said that preliminary examinations had confirmed signs of poisoning among a number of patients. According to the doctor, most of those seeking treatment were from the Qala-e-Naw area of western Kabul.
The doctor added that initial test results in most cases indicated the presence of amoeba parasites in the patients’ bodies. However, it remains unclear whether contaminated water or another factor was responsible for the reported illnesses, and further investigation is needed to determine the exact cause.
The Taliban authorities have not yet commented on reports of hundreds of people becoming ill in western Kabul. No official information has been released regarding the exact number of patients or their health conditions.
Western Kabul is one of the areas of the capital facing significant challenges in accessing safe drinking water. In various parts of the area, the drying up of wells has forced some families to rely on mobile water tankers to meet their daily water needs.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
