U.S. Aid Cuts Lead to Closure of 420 Health Centers in Afghanistan, WHO Says
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that following the complete suspension of financial aid from the United States, the operations of 420 health centers across Afghanistan have come to a halt, leaving over 3 million people without access to essential health services.
According to a report released by the organization on Sunday, May 25, the closures have affected 3.05 million people in 30 provinces across the country. Data shows that the most severe impact has been in Daykundi province, where 63 health centers have ceased operations.
Specifically, 80 centers in the east, 70 in the southeast, 67 in the central highlands (Daykundi and Bamyan), 62 in the northeast, 49 in the north, 47 in the west, 34 in the south, and 11 in central provinces such as Kabul, Logar, and Maidan Wardak have shut down.
The WHO has warned that the U.S. funding cut has severely limited access to life-saving healthcare, especially for vulnerable populations, worsening the humanitarian situation in the country. The organization has called on other international donors to provide alternative funding to prevent further deterioration.
The United States, once the largest financial contributor to Afghanistan, suspended its foreign aid following the rise to power of Donald Trump.
Additionally, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently warned that due to budget cuts, 6.3 million people in Afghanistan — the majority of whom are women and girls — may lose access to essential health services.
The WHO had previously warned that without adequate funding, up to 80 percent of the health centers it supports in Afghanistan could be forced to shut down.
