WHO says only 1 week of medical supplies left in Afghanistan

The World Health Organization warns that it has enough medical supplies to last it “one week,” following the blistering Taliban takeover of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul 10 days ago.

“WHO now only has enough supplies in-country to last for one week,” says Ahmed al-Mandhari, the head of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region — stretching from Morocco to Afghanistan.

“Yesterday, 70 percent of these supplies were released to health facilities,” he adds.

Mandhari says that 500 metric tons of medicines and supplies stored in Dubai were unable to be delivered due to the chaotic evacuation efforts at Kabul airport, which does not have the capacity to receive commercial flights.

“Countries sending in empty planes to pick up evacuees do not feel they are able to help,” Mandhari says.