Taliban forces in Zabul province violently raided health clinics and pharmacies on Sunday for what the provincial health department says were measures taken to combat lack of proper licenses, high prices, and poor treatment.
As many as 28 clinics were caught up in the rampage with some clinics reporting violence towards staff and destruction of valuable equipment, according to a reliable source.
Targeted clinics included both NGO-backed and private health centers. Some were forced to close after they were raided, with equipment destroyed and staff or owners beaten by Taliban forces.
In video footage seen by Rukhshana Media, some owners accused the Taliban of maltreatment, saying they forcefully entered the clinics and misbehaved.
In a video of one of the private clinics, the table and chairs have been thrown into the hall of the center and advertising banners have been ripped and torn off the walls inside.
The Taliban’s Department of Public Health in Zabul has subsequently published a newsletter saying that during their “campaign”, they closed several health centers and pharmacies due to non-observance of health issues, high prices, and lack of proper licenses to operate.
According to the newsletter, the public health department holds the owners accountable for the violation and have taken written commitments from them to not to continue such acts in the future.
