The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded a dire warning that 80% of its health activities in Afghanistan face closure by June because of a critical funding crisis. The agency says 167 critical operations have already been compelled to close, exposing millions to vulnerability in an already weak healthcare system.
The WHO highlighted that without immediate funding, Afghanistan stands to lose an irreversible collapse of its critical health services, including maternal care, vaccination programs, and emergency interventions. The agency highlighted the greater vulnerability of women and children, who are the most dependent on these programs.
Afghanistan’s health infrastructure has been in turmoil since global funding slowed after the Taliban regained power in 2021. The WHO and other humanitarian agencies are increasingly struggling to maintain their programs amidst the country’s deepening economic and humanitarian crisis.
The WHO has called on global donors to immediately increase funding pledges to avoid a total collapse of services. “Time is running out,” a WHO spokesperson cautioned, noting that the shutdown of these facilities will worsen malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and avoidable deaths in Afghanistan.
