Kabul: Andrew Saberton, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has warned that a recent $102 million reduction in US aid will deprive 6.9 million Afghan women and children of critical healthcare services.
This budget cut is set to cause a significant disruption to UNFPA’s operations in the country, with 500 out of 900 health centres facing potential closure.
Speaking to reporters in New York after visiting several provinces in Afghanistan, Saberton described the consequences as “devastating”.
He stressed that, despite often being overlooked in global media, Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis remains one of the world’s largest, reports Khaama News.
During his visit, Saberton toured UNFPA-supported health centres in Kabul, Bamiyan, and along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where the organisation plays a crucial role in providing healthcare to vulnerable populations.
According to Saberton, the US has slashed approximately $330 million from its global UNFPA budget, with $102 million earmarked for Afghanistan.
These funds had been directed towards essential family health services and mobile care units, which are vital in a country suffering from one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally.
They also supported critical psychological and social assistance programmes, particularly for women and children, who rely on these services for their survival.
The aid cut is especially damaging for Afghanistan, as the war-torn country remains in dire straits despite international efforts. The situation is further exacerbated by Washington’s freezing of Afghanistan’s assets, following Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
While the US did release over $3.5 million worth funds, and Afghanistan has seen some modest economic growth in recent years, the country still greatly lacks both funds and infrastructure to tackle the multitude of problems it faces.
With the international community’s attention often diverted elsewhere, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the broader conflict in the Middle East due to the Israel-Hamas war, the already fragile Afghan healthcare system is facing collapse.
Saberton reiterated that UNFPA remains committed to its operations in Afghanistan, though he cautioned that the reduction in resources would make it increasingly difficult to meet the rising needs of the population.
The closure of health clinics and the loss of life-saving services will disproportionately affect women and children, worsening an already dire situation.
As Afghanistan continues to struggle, it is more crucial than ever for the international community to reinstate funding and support initiatives like UNFPA’s.
Without adequate resources, the future of Afghanistan’s most vulnerable populations remains uncertain, and the global effort to alleviate this crisis could falter.
UNI
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