According to officials, nearly 90 schoolgirls and teachers were hospitalized in northern Afghanistan over the weekend with symptoms of respiratory and neurological problems, suspected to be poisoning. Two girls’ schools were affected, Kabod Aab School and Faiz Abad Girls’ School. A suggestion that the poisonings were motivated by local animosities between villages was dismissed by some residents. These incidents have caused additional concerns for parents sending their daughters to school, particularly since Taliban authorities have rolled back on the rights of women, including their access to education. Previous incidents believed to be poisonings at girls’ schools in Afghanistan date back to 2012, and additionally drew international attention earlier this year in Iran.
