We have been active in Afghanistan since 2010. The security situation remains difficult. Attacks by the Taliban and other radical groups are part of people’s everyday lives. Many families have lost everything and live in extreme poverty. Medical care in the country is poor. Many hospitals have been destroyed and there is a lack of qualified doctors.
The efforts of our three medical teams in Kunduz, Mazar-i-Sharif and Faizabad require courage. Our four surgeons are always in mortal danger in their work for cleft children. In particular when they visit remote villages to educate families of cleft children and convince them of the need for surgery, they are exposed to the risk of attacks.
The security situation and the accessibility of patients in remote areas will remain the major challenges in the further development of our Afghan project locations in 2020.