Health

Heat and poverty drive illness in Kandahar’s Daman district

A combination of extreme heat and widespread poverty is fueling a surge in seasonal illnesses among children in Kandahar Province, where temperatures have climbed above 40°C (104°F). For many families in Daman District, the crisis deepens daily.

Mothers here report that their children are suffering from heat exhaustion and other seasonal ailments, but they cannot afford medical care.

“My toddler is very sick, and I have no money for treatment,” said Hafiza, a mother in Daman. “Clinics are closed, and they won’t treat us.”

With international aid to Afghanistan recently reduced, local health services have deteriorated sharply. Where free medicine and basic treatments were once available, now there is little to no support.

“The clinics that used to give us free medicine are gone,” said Omra Gul, another resident. “Not a single packet of tablets is provided anymore. Our economic situation is terrible.”

She added: “All our children are sick. Clinics are closed, and we have no financial means.”

Daman is one of the most populous districts in Kandahar and is beset by long-term economic hardship. Many families live under the Taliban-run health ministry, which suffers from chronic staff shortages and limited medical supplies. Temperatures above 40°C make infants especially vulnerable; mothers say they resort to splashing water on their children’s faces to provide brief relief.

Local officials and aid groups warn that without urgent intervention—such as mobile clinics, medical outreach, or financial assistance—the health of the district’s children could deteriorate further.

The crisis in Daman reflects a broader collapse in Afghanistan’s public health system. As humanitarian aid dwindles and economic conditions worsen, heat-related illnesses—already a normal seasonal risk—pose a serious threat to children’s lives across the southwestern region.