KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A total of 41 healthcare centers in Afghanistan’s Ghazni and Bamyan provinces have ceased operations due to cuts in U.S. assistance, according to the Taliban.
The closures, first reported by local news outlet TOLOnews, include 15 clinics, three small healthcare centers, 17 mobile medical teams, and two emergency health service centers in Ghazni, as well as two healthcare centers in Bamyan. These facilities served remote and underserved areas, leaving thousands without access to essential medical services.
Hamidullah Nisar, head of the Taliban information and culture department in Ghazni, told the news outlet: “A total of 39 healthcare centers have been shut down, including 15 small clinics, three subsidiary centers, 17 mobile teams, one safety center, and two medical clinics. In total, 39 healthcare facilities in Ghazni have ceased operations.”
Saboor Sighani, spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Bamyan, acknowledged the effects of the aid freeze in the province. “Unfortunately, after the suspension of U.S. aid, residents of Bamyan have also been affected. With the cut in aid, two healthcare offices in Bamyan have closed. However, with the efforts of Islamic Emirate [Taliban] officials, one of these centers has resumed operations,” he said.
The closures come in the aftermath of an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump last month, which halted all foreign aid for at least three months. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently ordered an immediate freeze on foreign aid, exempting only military assistance to Israel and Egypt, as well as food and life-saving humanitarian aid.
The suspension of U.S. aid has already disrupted the operations of multiple organizations providing healthcare and humanitarian assistance across Afghanistan. On Monday, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, announced that it would suspend operations in nearly 20 countries, including Afghanistan, due to the funding freeze.
“We have, in our 79-year history, never experienced such an abrupt discontinuation of aid funding from any of our many donor nations, intergovernmental organizations, or private donor agencies,” NRC said, warning that the funding shortfall threatens assistance for hundreds of thousands of people affected by war, displacement, and natural disasters.
The disruptions come at a critical time. According to the UN, nearly 15 million people—one-third of Afghanistan’s population—are in dire need of healthcare services. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 23.2% of those in need are women, 53% are children, and 9.9% are persons with disabilities.
