The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that 80 percent of the services it supports in Afghanistan could close in June due to a shortage of financing.
The UN Health Agency said the cash deficit, which occurs in the midst of massive American help cuts, is linked to a change in “development aid priorities.”
“Without an urgent intervention, more than 220 more facilities could be closed by June 2025, leaving 1.8 million additional Afghans without access to primary health care,” WHO said in a statement.
The agency said that 167 of these operations have already closed due to the lack of financial support.
“The consequences will be measured in lost lives,” said the head of Afghanistan, Edwin ash Salvador. “It’s not just about funds. It is a humanitarian emergency that threatens to undo years of progress in strengthening the Afghanistan health system. “
WHO has been playing alarm since the president of the United States, Donald Trump, signed an executive order that withdrew the United States from the agency.
This extraction and the end of Washington’s contributions put the global measles surveillance network at risk, which has so far been fully financed by Washington.
Afghanistan saw more than 16,000 suspected measles and 111 deaths in January and February, according to Who. The figures are disputed by the Taliban authorities, who returned to power in 2021 with the expulsion of the government backed by the United States.
The Taliban government is not recognized internationally and is based largely on NGOs, UN agencies and help donors to keep the health system afloat.
‘Multiple health emergencies’
Who said Afghanistan also faces “multiple health emergencies”, including malaria and dengue shoots.
There are continuous efforts to vaccinate enough children to eradicate polyomyelitis, which remains endemic in only two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The lack of funds has also hit Save The Children, who said that last week 18 health centers supported by the beneficial organization and its partners have closed.
“Only 14 Save the Children clinics have enough funds to remain open for one more month, and without a new financial support, they will be forced to close. These 32 clinics supported more than 134,000 children alone in January, ”said the beneficial organization.
In addition, Afghanistan suffers one of the highest maternal mortality proportions in the world of 638 per 100,000 living births. This is likely to get worse due to the US fund cuts, with the UN forecasting 1,200 additional maternal deaths between now and 2028.
Malnutrition is also generalized in the country, which faces economic, humanitarian and climatic crises after being mistreated by four decades of war. The UN says that 10pc of children under five are malnourished and 45PC are stunted.
