The Kabul Tribune (KT)-- In Afghanistan, more than 420 health facilities have closed this year, forcing 3 million people to go without critical care, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-General.
“In Afghanistan, more than 420 health facilities have closed
this year, forcing 3 million people to go without critical care,” he told a press
conference.
Afghanistan’s healthcare system has plunged into a deep
crisis following donor funding cuts triggered by Taliban restrictions on
women’s rights and governance issues. Many international donors suspended or
redirected their aid after the Taliban barred women from working in NGOs and
limited female access to education and employment.
The crisis has been further compounded by a halt in U.S.
funding, initiated under former President Donald Trump, after reports of
Taliban interference in the aid distribution process. The move disrupted key
humanitarian programs that once sustained Afghanistan’s fragile health
infrastructure.
Health workers and aid groups warn that the continuing
collapse of healthcare services could result in higher maternal and infant
mortality rates, worsening malnutrition, and increased outbreaks of preventable
diseases.
“Without urgent international support, millions of Afghans
could lose access to even the most basic medical care,” a U.N. humanitarian
official said.
