World in Progress: Saving Lives

This week on World in Progress: How Afghan refugees abroad see the worsening situation back home // UNICEF tries to help Afghan children and women harmed by the surging conflict //Peru's medical staff struggles to stem the next wave of Covid 19 // Polyandy: Should women be allowed to have several husbands in South Africa? Worried for their families: Afghan refugees in India

Since the withdrawal of international troups from Afghanistan, conflict and violence have resurged. The Taliban are taking more territory in the country, overrunning military outposts, villages and major cities. A growing number of civilians are trying to find safety. Decades of conflict have displaced millions of Afghans, many to neighboring countries. While figures are much higher in Pakistan, more than 11,000 Afghan refugees are officially registered in India, plus an unknown number of illegal refugees. Their hopes of returning to their home are dwindling and they are worried for their families.

Reporter: Murali Krishnan

The human toll of the resurging violence in Afghanistan

The number of Afghan refugees abroad is set to increase, with a growing number of people affected by violence in the country, including women and children. Just in the past few days alone, more than 20 Afghan children have died due to the conflict, says the UN Children' emergency fund, UNICEF. To find out more about the humanitarian situation in the country, I caught up with Mustapha Ben Messaoud. He is the chief of field operations for UNICEF in Afghanistan, and travels across the country trying to cater to millions in need. And I first asked Mr. Ben Messaoud how people in the country feel right now and whether there was a sense of history repeating itself?

Interview: Anke Rasper/ Mustapha Ben Messaoud

Coping with Covid 19 in Peru

Peru is the country with the highest COVID-19 mortality rate - More than 180.000 of its 33 million inhabitants have died from the virus. The medical staff in this poor country in the Andes is struggling to deal with the devastating situation. Health services are barley able to help those most in need, and there's a lack of oxygen for those worst affected. While infection rates have been decreasing in recent weeks, there's concern about a third wave that could hit soon. The immunization campaign is only slowly taking off, and doctors are worried about a new virus mutation labled "Lambda", which was recently discovered in the country. It's already responsible for 80 percent of infections in Peru. Just how dangerous it is is hard to assess because the country lacks adequate means and data to monitor it, as Anne Herrberg found out. Louisa Wright has her report.

Reporter: Anne Herrberg / presenter: Louisa Wright

Will polygamy be legalized for women in South Africa?

Polygyny is permitted in South Africa, but Polyandry isn't. The terms are not that familiar to most people, but they refer to practises that are not allowed in many countries - marriages with more than one partner. Polygyny means a man marrying several wives, and Polyandry refers to a woman with multiple husbands. Now, a man with several wives, that's a lot more common and in some cultures in Africa and elsewhere, men are legally permitted to marry several women, and thats also the case in South Africa. But at the moment there is a political discussion going on in the country about whether women should be granted the same rights that men have on principle. That would also include marriage laws. So If South Africa decided to change the laws this way, it would be legal for women to marry several husbands - Jana Gent's story is presented by Natalie Muller.