6.3 million people lose access to healthcare in Afghanistan due to budget cuts, UN warns
KABUL: The United Nations Population Fund has warned that due to budget cuts, 6.3 million people, primarily women and girls, will lose access to essential healthcare services in Afghanistan.
According to the agency, hundreds of health centers in remote areas and mobile clinics have been forced to close.
Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan warned that 80% of health centers supported by the organization would shut down due to funding shortages.
Following the suspension of U.S. aid in February, the operations of 202 health centers in Afghanistan have been suspended.
The WHO also cautioned that without immediate intervention, over 220 additional centers could close by June 2025, leaving another 1.8 million people without access to primary healthcare.
Afghanistan’s healthcare system, which relies heavily on foreign aid, is facing a crisis following the reduction in assistance after the Taliban took power.
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