Tolo News: The Ministry of Public Health on Saturday reported 27 new cases of the coronavirus in the country, bringing the total to 933. Fear is increasing over the lack of testing kits and other health supplies in various provinces including Kabul and Herat, which have the highest number of COVID-19 patients. The Public Health
Michael Hughes: It is hard to envision the powers that be in Afghanistan – amid ongoing civil war and political disunity – devising a coherent strategy to handle the coronavirus outbreak and the concomitant economic freefall. As of April 15, Afghanistan had 784 confirmed coronavirus cases in at least 27 of the country’s 34 provinces,
Tolo News: As positive cases of the coronavirus increase in the country, President Ghani says the government “has the capacity to fight COVID-19” and that it has the situation “under control,” but “unity” is required. Speaking at an event at the Presidential Palace on Sunday, Ghani said overcoming a health and economic crisis requires a
The Diplomat: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance, one of the most important ministries in the country, will now be fragmented into three independent agencies. There are concerns over the proposed division of the Ministry of Finance, particularly to what extent the new agencies will act “independently.” This decision would make these agencies vulnerable to political influence
AA: In a landmark development, Afghanistan has started extracting gas from a newly discovered field in northern Jawzjan province, officials confirmed on Thursday. This is the first time in four decades that natural gas is being extracted in Afghanistan, acting Minister for Mines and Petroleum Enayatullah Momand told state broadcaster RTA Pashto. Click here to
Tolo News: The positive cases of COVID-19 reached 120 in Afghanistan after three people tested positive for the virus on Sunday, said Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz, who added that the cases are increasing and that his institution does not have access to the required budget to fight the pandemic. Click here to read more
VOA News March 28, 2020 By Hasib Danish Alikozai, Niala Mohammad, Roshan Noorzai WASHINGTON – While the government of President Ashraf Ghani downplays the repercussions of a potential $1 billion cut in U.S. aid to Afghanistan, ordinary Afghans and experts warn the country is not in a position to withstand such a financial blow as it struggles with
Tolo News: Kabul, a city with an estimated population of six million, will be locked-down due to the coronavirus outbreak in Afghanistan. The lockdown will begin Saturday and will continue for at least three weeks, government officials said. Speaking at a press conference, Kabul governor Mohammad Yaqub Haidari said all Kabul residents must stay at
Tolo News: The Minister of Public Health Ferozuddin Feroz in a press conference on Tuesday cited estimates saying that half of the country’s population may become infected with COVID-19. Feroz said that if the necessary measures are taken, the risk of getting the virus will be reduced, otherwise–based on these predictions–more than one hundred thousand
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan March 24, 2020 KABUL — Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says a cut in aid from the United States will not affect “key” areas of daily life in the war-torn country even as it battles to stem the coronavirus outbreak. The U.S. State Department announced late on March 23 that it was