RASC News Agency: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a dire warning that due to severe budget cuts, over 80% of essential healthcare services it supports in Afghanistan could face complete shutdown. According to previous reports, as of March 4, 2025, 167 healthcare centers across 24 provinces had already ceased operations, with funding shortages cited as the primary cause. The WHO further cautioned that without immediate intervention, an additional 220 healthcare facilities could be forced to close by June 2025, depriving an estimated 1.8 million people of access to primary healthcare services.
Reports indicate that northern, western, and northeastern Afghanistan have suffered the greatest impact, raising alarms over an escalating humanitarian crisis in these regions. Moreover, the closures have left millions of people, particularly vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, displaced individuals, and returnees, without access to lifesaving medical care. Dr. Edwin Ceniza Salvador, the WHO’s representative in Afghanistan, described the deteriorating living conditions in the country as alarming.
Highlighting the surge in disease outbreaks, he remarked:
“These closures are not just statistics; they represent mothers unable to give birth safely, children missing critical vaccinations, and entire communities left defenseless against deadly diseases.” The WHO has warned that if the current crisis persists and access to healthcare remains restricted, disease control efforts will face catastrophic setbacks.
The suspension of U.S. aid has led to the closure of organizations previously reliant on American funding, further exacerbating Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian conditions. The WHO has strongly condemned the withdrawal of U.S. assistance, warning that it will have devastating consequences for Afghanistan’s healthcare system and its people.
