The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that in Afghanistan, an estimated 24 mothers die per day of preventable maternal mortality causes because they cannot receive health assistance exacerbated by funding shortfall.
The WHO said in a post on X that this number is feared to rise dramatically should underfunding continue.
In a recent report, WHO warned of a crippling health system in the country with millions of lives threatened by food insecurity and malnutrition and further exacerbated by infectious diseases, ongoing outbreaks, and severe drought.
According to the report, the number of people in need of humanitarian aid has surged to 28.8 million in 2023, compared to 18.4 million before the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
In the health sector, it means that 14 million people (including 7.5 million children and 3.1 million women) are currently targeted for health assistance, according to the report, stating that only 8.4 million people have been reached in the first six months of 2023.
WHO’s funding for the 2022-2023 biennium is US$480 million, of which US$355 has either been implemented or is available. This leaves an additional US$125 million in funding gap to sustain basic health needs for the remainder of 2023.
