ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says its partners need $367 million in funding to deliver healthcare services to the 12.8 million people in Afghanistan in 2024.
In a social media statement, the UN Agency stated that this funding is necessary to enhance access to healthcare services and address severe acute malnutrition in the country.
Despite billions of dollars poured into the country in the past two years, Afghanistan’s humanitarian and economic crises continue to only deepen.
Women and girls are particularly vulnerable as the Taliban’s unrecognized regime restricts their access to education and employment.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations have repeatedly warned of a crippling health system crisis in Afghanistan.
A recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) shows that the reduction in humanitarian aid by donor countries and organizations has weakened healthcare access, destabilized the economy, and worsened food insecurity in Afghanistan.
According to the HRW report, the crisis has been significantly worsened by the Taliban’s abusive policies and practices which have obstructed the training of future female healthcare workers.
Last week, officials in the western city of Herat reported an unprecedented surge in cancer cases. They say the uptick is attributable to worsening health care services and shortage of nutritious food and clean drinking water.
Several districts in Herat were severely damaged by a powerful earthquake last fall that left tens of thousands of people without access to basic services and protection, including food, shelter, and clean water.
Although the UN and other humanitarian organizations have taken over most of the country’s public service delivery, the fragility only expands.
With no improvement in sight, the UN’s struggle is compounded by donor fatigue hampering its ability to mobilize resources in the wake of global financial constraints and competing crises elsewhere.
