WHO Warns 80% of Afghanistan Health Services May Shut Down by June

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that 80% of the health services it supports in Afghanistan are at risk of closing by June due to a lack of funding. They also said that 167 facilities have already been shut down, and another 220 might close by mid 2025, which would leave 1.8 million people without primary healthcare services.

Afghanistan is currently going through many crises, including a measles outbreak that has resulted in over 16,000 suspected cases and 111 deaths this year. As well as that, the country is also facing challenges from malaria, dengue, and polio. The Taliban government has to rely heavily on aid organizations to support its almost non existent healthcare system. However, funding cuts, particularly the reduction in US funding following its withdrawal from the WHO during Donald Trump's tenure, has made it difficult for the agency.

Edwin Ceniza Salvador, WHO’s Afghanistan lead, called the situation a “humanitarian emergency”. Save the Children also reported closures of 18 clinics, with only 14 funded through April. These facilities served over 134,000 children in January.

Currently in Afghanistan, maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world, with 638 deaths for every 100,000 births. If the WHO closes its operations and there's nothing else to fill the vacuum, this figure may rise to an additional 1,200 deaths by 2028. Aside from that, malnutrition affects 10% of children under five, and this figure may also increase.