Monday January 4, 2016
Kabul (BNA) As many as 350 individuals addicted in drugs have been collected on Sunday, from the Pul-e-Sukhta area, where the official said an overnight operation coordinated between the two key organs—the ministries of counter-narcotics and public health had been launched for the purpose. According to the government-run Bakhtar News Agency, scores of ambulances have been used to carry tens of drugs addicts have been collected and taken to the recently built drugs addicts’ center accommodating over 1500 people. “There in the related Phoenix center, they would be trained some crafts alongside being treated,” said the agency quoting Afghanistan Public Health Minister, Dr. Firuzuddin Firuz who said the main reason behind the move for overnight operation was to prioritize collection of those homeless and derelict individuals, while the harsh season was intensifying. According to him, the building of the Camp Phoenix, which was completed by 70 percent, is expected to be officially inaugurated in the near future. A joint commission from the ministries of public health, counter drugs, labor and social affairs, economy and interior, under the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan had been set to comprehensively address the addiction challenges in the country. Earlier, a similar measure could lead to the collection of the same figure (350 drugs addicts) from the said areas and taken to the Phoenix, where the international coalition used it for their forces. As reported, an estimate of up to 2 million drugs addicts are now available in the country, but due to lack of possibilities, this was too difficult to meet the entire problem, unless the international entities and donor nations provide cooperation in this respect.
