KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Eighteen health facilities supported by Save the Children and its partners across Afghanistan have been forced to close due to a significant reduction in aid, leaving thousands of children without essential medical care, the charity has warned.
In a statement on Tuesday, Save the Children said that only 14 of its 32 health centers remain operational, and without urgent funding, they too could shut in the coming weeks.
“Only 14 Save the Children clinics have sufficient funding to continue operating for one more month. Without new financial support, they too will be forced to close. These 32 clinics supported over 134,000 children in January alone,” the organization said.
The charity also revealed that the recent reduction in foreign aid has led to the suspension of life-saving programs aimed at treating malnourished children.
Dr. Hanif, a doctor working in northern Afghanistan, expressed concern over the situation, highlighting that the health centers have been a crucial resource for many local communities.
“Our clinic is the only option for this community. There are no local doctors or nurses here,” Dr. Hanif said. “At the moment, we are treating 135 malnourished children at this clinic. If the clinic closes, their families won’t be able to afford the cost of transporting them to the nearest public or private facility.”
He added that medical staff have pledged to work without salaries for four to five months, recognizing the community’s desperate need for healthcare services. “Without these essential services, many patients would not survive,” he warned.
Save the Children also noted that foreign aid cuts, particularly from the United States, have impacted not only Afghanistan but about 40 countries, threatening health, nutrition, and education programs for millions of children worldwide.
Afghanistan has been grappling with a worsening humanitarian and healthcare crisis, exacerbated by Taliban policies, a sharp decline in foreign aid, and natural disasters. Nearly 23 million people require humanitarian assistance, while 14 million—mostly women and children—urgently need healthcare support, according to the UN.
Meanwhile, the recent suspension of U.S. aid has already disrupted operations for multiple organizations providing health and humanitarian assistance in the country. The UN previously warned that around 9 million people could lose access to healthcare due to the cuts.
Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told the UN Security Council on Monday that reductions in aid funding have had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the people of Afghanistan.
According to the UN official, more than 200 health centers closed across Afghanistan in February alone, affecting nearly two million people. Otunbayeva also noted that essential malnutrition services for children have been limited.
