Afghan School Poisonings Linked to Toxic Chemicals, The Associated Press, 1 September 2010
EXCERPT: "Blood samples taken from Afghan schoolgirls who collapsed in apparent mass poisonings showed traces of toxic chemicals found in herbicides, pesticides and nerve gas, the Health Ministry said Wednesday. Suspicion has fallen on sympathizers of the Taliban, the hard-line Islamist militia that opposes education for women and prohibited girls from going to school when it was in power until it being ousted by a 2001 U.S.-led invasion. Poisonous levels of organophosphates were found in samples taken from girls sickened in incidents over the past two years, said ministry spokesman Dr. Ghulam Sakhi Kargar. Samples from more recent cases have been sent to Turkey for analysis and no results have been issued yet, Kargar said. Last month, 48 pupils and teachers at Kabul's Zabihullah Esmati High School and 60 students and teachers at the Totia Girls School were hospitalized after fainting or complaining of breathing problems, dizziness and nausea. Students say they began feeling unwell after being exposed to an unknown gas spreading through classrooms."
Read the full story.
Related articles:
US concerned over attacks on Afghan schoolchildren, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 31 August 2010
The Taliban mystery gas, Strategy Page, 31 August 2010
Related resources:
Osman Mirghani: The Scourge that has Afflicted Muslims, Asharq Alawsat, 1 September 2010
Nushin Arbabzadah: School "gassing" shows Afghanistan's theological chaos, The Guardian - Comment is Free, 27 August 2010
Related posts:
Afghan girls in suspected gas attack, 25 August 2010
Attacks on schools on the rise: Report, 23 November 2009
Insecurity
harming child health, education: UNICEF, 20 May 2009
The high price of education in Afghanistan, 25 February 2009

