The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says it will establish three new comprehensive health centers in Afghanistan over the next two years under a new program costing three million dollars.
In a statement released on Tuesday (December 23), UNHCR said the centers will be built in the provinces of Kunar, Kandahar and Daikundi as part of efforts to support returnees and internally displaced people. The funding will be provided through the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund.
According to the statement, the health facility in Kunar will operate as a general hospital and is expected to serve around 150,000 people. In Daikundi and Kandahar, clinics will be constructed, each providing services to approximately 45,000 people.
UNHCR said that more than 240,000 vulnerable people – including internally displaced persons, returnees and members of host communities – are expected to benefit from the project.
The agency added that since 2022 it has built 28 health centers across Afghanistan, 21 of which are currently operational.
UNHCR said the new initiative reinforces its commitment to improving sustainable, community-based access to healthcare, particularly for returnees and displaced populations in the country.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, access to healthcare in Afghanistan has been severely restricted due to a decline in international funding, forcing a number of health facilities to suspend operations.
The pressure on the health system has intensified this year following the return of nearly two million migrants from Iran and Pakistan, further straining already limited healthcare services.
