[ToloNews] A 50-bed hospital in Dawlat Abad district in the northern province of Balkh has remained closed for over a month due to "threats by the Taliban
 ...mindless ferocity in a turban...
," an official said, adding that the group has threatened health officials to avoid going to the center unless security outposts nearby are removed.
Ghawsuddin Anwari, the acting head of the Balkh health directorate, said all doctors and health workers have not gone to the hospital since Nov. 21, 2020.
"A notice came from the Taliban in November in which they had asked the employees not to go to the hospital until security forces leave (the areas around) the hospital," Anwari said.
Some Dawlat Abad district residents who have traveled to Mazar-e-Sharif city for treatment due to the closure of the hospital in their area said the issue has faced them with many problems, including high expenses of traveling to the center of the province.
"There isn’t any hospital in Dawlat Abad. We brought our patient here (Mazar-e-Sharif) with many hardships," said Zalmay, a resident of Dawlat Abad.
"We are faced with many problems. We pay Afs3,000 ($38) to 4,000 ($51) to travel to Mazar-e-Sharif," said Ghulam Sakhi, 45, a resident of Dawlat Abad.
The provincial office of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission said the use of public places as a military target is not acceptable and is in contravention of international laws.
"Use of public places like mosques, schools and cultural sites in conflicts as a shield is not allowed," said Sayed Mohammad Same, head of the commission in the north.
Balkh police said the security outposts located near the Dawlat Abad hospital have been removed.
"There was a place behind the hospital where security forces went for operations as it was suitable for this purpose. The Balkh police leadership held talks with defense forces and agreed to leave the area temporarily," Balkh police front man Adil Shah Adil said. 
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