Afghanistan – Schoolgirls Hospitalized – Possible Poisoning

Kabul, Afghanistan — About 60 schoolgirls
in Afghanistan’s Balkh province appear to have been poisoned and required
hospitalization, the Ministry of Health said Sunday.

The victims ranged in age from 9 to 14. Most
suffered minor reactions, ministry spokesman Sakhi Kargan told CNN.

It’s at least the third suspected poisoning of
girls attending schools in Afghanistan this week.

Nearly 90 people were poisoned in attacks on three
schools in April. There have been no known deaths to date in any of the
attacks.

The Taliban banned girls from going to school when
they ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

Since girls’ schools began
reopening after the Taliban were overthrown, facilities, female students and
teachers have been the victims of attacks.

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