U.S. Aid Cuts Impact Afghan Healthcare, UNFPA Reports
The U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) is facing significant challenges in Afghanistan due to recent reductions in U.S. foreign aid, a senior official warned. The cuts are expected to have dire consequences for the health and well-being of millions, particularly women and girls.
Andrew Saberton, UNFPA’s deputy executive director for management, highlighted the pressing situation during a briefing with U.N. reporters. He noted that 6.3 million Afghans are losing access to essential healthcare services, a majority of whom are women and girls.
The decision by the Trump administration to cancel foreign aid contracts has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where more than half the population relies on such assistance for survival.
Saberton explained that the cuts have forced UNFPA to halve the number of midwives it can support. By 2026, the agency anticipates supporting only 418 community health facilities, a stark decrease from the current 982.
“Hundreds of health centers in remote areas and mobile clinics are being forced to close, health workers are being laid off, supplies are running out, and lives are at stake,” Saberton stated, underscoring the urgent need for continued support.
