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Afghaninstan

Ten days have passed since South Korean civilians were kidnapped in Afghanistan and there is growing concern for their health and safety.

The 23 abducted civilians, who had traveled to Afghanistan to do volunteer work, were kidnapped on July 19 by Taliban insurgents. While Korean government has tried to free the hostages through discussions with various factions of the Taliban, the crisis has become protracted amidst concerns that it will continue. One of those abducted, the leader of the group, was found dead last Wednesday, but the others in the group, 18 women and 4 men, are reported to still be alive.

Experts think that the mental and physical health of the hostages will reach a critical point due to the trauma of the lengthening abduction. Stress and fear, surveillance by Taliban militants wearing “suicide bomb vests” and deep frustration at the crossroads of life and death could arouse panic. Yu Jun-hyeon, professor of Samsung Medical Center, said, “Given that it’s been eight or nine days since the abduction, the hostages’ health could start to worsen significantly. Considering they have been subjected to constant stress, poor living conditions and an insufficient supply of food and water for more than a week, they may begin to show exhaustion due to weakening immunity.”

Im Hyeon-ju, the hostage whose appeal for those held captive was heard via a telephone interview with her that was televised in the United States by broadcaster CBS News, was guoted as saying that “all of us are sick and in very bad condition.” During the telephone interview, which was originally broadcast by a local radio station, a woman who was presumed to be Im said that she and another female hostage were in very bad condition, indicating at least two of the kidnapped have health problems.

Mullah Mohammad Sabir, who claimed himself to be the Taliban governor who controls Gazni province, said during an interview with the CBS, that none of the female hostages had health problems and they had allowed one male hostage to get medical treatment.

The condition of hostages who have suffered from illness can worsen with the passage of time. Professor Jeong Jae-hun of Sungkyunkwan University’s School of Medicine said, “I heard that one of the abductees was a thyroid cancer patient. If the patient can’t take hormone drugs for more than two weeks, his or her metabolism will sharply fall.”

The Afghan military, along with Afghan police forces and the NATO army have blocked the supply route around the stronghold of Taliban militants. Yousuf Ahmadi, who says he is a Taliban spokesperson, was reported to have said on July 27 that they were short of medicine and had only two kinds of pain killers which are frequently used in Afghanistan. They have reportedly provided the hostages with limited Afghan food and drinks. Ahmadi also reportedly admitted that they were not getting enough supplies. In comparison, a spokesperson of Abdullah Jan, a Taliban commander, said on July 23, that the hostages had eaten chocolate and biscuits in the morning and they would give eggs and meat to hostages.

Due to the blocked supply route, the suffering of the kidnapped is expected to worsen as the incident lengthens. A government official, speaking about daily necessities and medical supplies, said on July 27, “We were discussing how to deliver those items with the authorities concerned and as far as I know, some supplies have already been transferred.”

Song Min-soon, South Korean foreign minister, said on July 21, “It seems that the hostages are divided into three groups and detained in three different places.” The government, however, has reportedly found out that they are detained in seven places under the control of three armed militias of the Taliban. In an e-mail interview with Yonhap News Agency on July 27, Yousuf Ahmadi said, however, “They are detained in 11 places, two in one place.”

The interview with Im Hyeon-ju, however, indicated that the hostages were divided into two groups according to their gender. Im said, that she was with 17 women and male hostages were detained in other places.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]