A rocket was fired at a hospital in eastern Afghanistan in an attack suspected by authorities to have been carried out by the Taliban, sparking extensive fire and destroying COVID-19 vaccines, according to government officials. there is information on human losses.
Meanwhile, in northern Afghanistan, the Taliban seized the town of Sir Khan Badar, on the border with Tajikistan, forcing a customs official and members of the security forces to cross the border to seek refuge.
Clashes between government forces and the Taliban have flared up in recent weeks as the latter take control of more territory as US-led international forces prepare to leave the country after two decades of fighting.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahideen has denied responsibility for the attack on a hospital in the eastern province of Kunar, which resulted in the loss of critical supplies, according to the provincial health director.
“Various types of vaccines, including doses of polio and COVID-19, have been destroyed by the fire,” said Kunar health official Aziz Safai.
Afghanistan has recorded 4,366 deaths from COVID-19 and 107,957 cases of the new coronavirus to date.
Many health officials say the actual incidence of the new coronavirus is likely to be much higher, but many cases are not detected as few tests are performed.
The virus is spreading as insecurity grows, especially since May 1, when the United States entered the final stages of withdrawing its forces and the Taliban intensified their attacks on government forces.
The Tajik Border Guard Service said in a statement issued late Tuesday night that it had allowed 134 Afghan soldiers to take refuge in Tajikistan from Sir Khan Bandar, about 50 kilometers from the city of Kunduz.
The Taliban seized ammunition and armored vehicles in the city after it was handed over by Afghan authorities to the Taliban, according to Afghan officials.
The loss of the commercial city will deal a blow to the US-backed Afghan government, which is trying to stem the Taliban’s advance into various parts of the country.
