KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The European Union has granted an additional €1 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) to expand emergency health services across Afghanistan, where millions struggle to access basic medical care.
In a statement on Tuesday, WHO said the latest funding brings the EU’s total contribution to its operations in Afghanistan to €7 million since May. The UN health agency said the new funds will help expand lifesaving services for underserved communities and returning Afghans.
According to the statement, more than 14 million people in the country face limited access to essential healthcare because of underfunded services, the closure of medical facilities, and a shortage of female health workers.
“This additional contribution from the EU helps ensure that no one is left behind – even in the most remote or crisis-affected areas,” said Dr Edwin Ceniza Salvador, WHO’s representative in Afghanistan. “It reinforces the principle that access to health is a right, not a privilege.”
François Gommez, head of the EU Humanitarian Aid Office in Afghanistan, said the bloc remains committed to supporting the Afghan people and ensuring that critical health services reach those most in need, particularly in remote and disaster-affected regions.
Afghanistan’s healthcare system, once largely funded by international donors, has faced one of its worst crises since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The sharp decline in foreign aid has forced hundreds of hospitals and clinics to close or drastically reduce services.
According to WHO, by May this year, at least 442 health facilities had stopped operating, mostly due to reduced foreign assistance, specially from the United States. Many of those still functioning face shortages of staff, medicines, and medical equipment.
Restrictions on female healthcare workers have further worsened the situation, leaving many Afghan women and children without access to vital care.
Aid groups have warned that without sustained funding, Afghanistan risks a complete collapse of its health system. Hospitals are already struggling to cope with rising cases of malnutrition, mental health issues, and outbreaks of infectious diseases such as cholera and measles, worsened by food insecurity and recurring natural disasters.
