Afghanistan; Drastic Increase of Opium Production Worries UN

The United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported an increase of 43% in opium production in Afghanistan on 2015. The poppy plant produces opium and other powerful medicinal painkillers like morphine.

According to UNODC, there was an increase in the farm area used for opium by 10% to 201,000 hectares of land. Improve farming condition generating greater harvest in the farm increasing the overall production. Yury Fedotov, the Executive Director of UNODC said that the data shows “a worrying reversal in efforts”.

Largest producer of opium

Afghanistan is the foremost producer of opium in the world. Opium is the main ingredient needed to produce heroin. Several nations grow their own supply and closely monitors production of the plant. They use it strictly for medicinal purposes.

In Afghanistan, cultivating the plant is also illegal; nevertheless, it attracts farming communities in the impoverished region in the country. Since the mass production of opium in the country is used mainly for the  illegal drug trade.

Taliban uses the tax money it collects from the poppy production in areas it controls to fund its military needs.

The Afghanistan government created a state policy to destroy poppy crops. However, allegations of corruption often surround government officials since the crop is so widespread in many government-controlled regions.

A local farmer told Justin Rowlatt of BBC’s South Asia that the local government knew about his crop in the north-east. He said, “They also know it is the only way anyone can make decent money.”

Paltry amount of poppies destroyed by authorities

The provincial authorities destroyed 255 hectares or 877 acres of poppy farms. It was a measly feat compared to the 4,000 hectares and down more than 90% of the poppies eradicated since 2015. During the eradication effort, seven insurgents and one officer died in the operations. Another seven people were also injured.

54% of the total opium production is located in the southern region of Afghanistan. It is also the most productive area in the country. Along with the Taliban forces’ presence, Helmand province is the single largest producer. The area claims more than 80,000 hectares of poppy farming.

Helmand province often serves as an area for conflicts between the Taliban fighters and Nato-led coalition forces. In 2014, the Nato-supported forces withdrew from the region. The Taliban fighters assaulted the capital Lashkar Gah in early October.

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Kunduz: Heavy Fighting Triggers ‘Rapidly Deteriorating’ Situation in City

Fierce fighting between government forces and Taliban rebels initiated a “rapidly deteriorating” humanitarian situation in the northern city of Kunduz. As a result, this condition effected a shortage of food, water and medical care for thousands of the city’s population.

For four straight days, following the infiltration of militants of the city’s defenses, vicious firefights raged along the streets. US and Afghan special forces operators and airstrikes supported the defending government security troops in maintaining their hold on Kunduz.

The government continually declared that they still control the city. However, residents report that the constant heavy skirmishes compelled thousands of people to escape.

In a statement, Dominic Parker, head of the U.N.’s humanitarian coordination office said that residents were becoming desperate. He remarked, “Many families were unable to bring their possessions with them and are in a precarious position.” He added, “We have had reports that some families have been forced to sleep out in the open and many have few food supplies.”

Upwards of 10,000 people left their homes and those who stayed now face a dwindling amount of necessary supplies. Furthermore, those who fled include a good portion of the primary public hospital’s general staff. One of the hospital’s doctors, Marzia Yaftali Salaam said several rockets and gun fire hit the medical facility.

Hospital overwhelmed by casualties

Three days of fighting saw the 200 bed hospital swamped by 210 casualties, combatants and civilians alike, Salaam said.

“Many of the wounded had to be carried to clinics in surrounding districts and private clinics in the city,” the doctor said. “If the situation remains the same, we may be forced to halt our services.”

On Wednesday, almost 50 wounded were delivered to the hospital during a break in the fighting. This all occurred within only a few hours, said the head of the public health department in Kunduz, Hameed Alam.

U.S. military command HQ in Kabul announced that the joint Afghan-American troops are “defeating Taliban attempts to take Kunduz.” They also mentioned that reinforcements were en-route and commandos were annihilating “isolated pockets” of militants.

“There is fighting in every street and the situation is critical,” said Ismail Kawasi, a spokesman for the Public Health Ministry in Kabul.

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Afghan Troops Gone AWOL From Military Training in US

In an attempt at presumably obtaining a better life in America, Pentagon officials said forty-four Afghan troops training in the United States disappeared in a span of less than two years.

The incidents create doubts on security and screening procedures for the programs. However, the number of missing troops is comparatively small. About 2,200 Afghan troops have received military training in the US since 2007.

Further, The US spent billions of dollars training Afghan troops to become an independent fighting force. Hence, the disappearances could be disconcerting for US President Barack Obama’s administration.

Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said that since January 2015, a total of 44 Afghan troops have gone missing. Eight Afghan troops have exited military bases without authorization since September alone.

He added that the Defense Department is finding ways to toughen admission criteria that will reduce the chances of an Afghan soldier going AWOL (absent without leave) in the US.

AWOL soldiers have clean records

Stump said that Afghans in the US training program undergo evaluation to confirm negative affiliation with any militant groups. Furthermore their records should not contain proof of participation in human rights abuses before permitted entry to the United States.

A defense official added that there was no evidence any of those who fled posed a threat to the US.

The military training program brings troops from around the world to the United States. The objective is to foster military relations and enhance capabilities for joint operations.

The Department of Homeland security is notified if students under the military program are gone from training for more than 24 hours. This means that the military considers them AWOL.

According to experts, besides a lack of economic prospects in the impoverished nation, low morale and inadequate training to fight the Taliban could be the reason behind the troops leaving.

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