Urgent Health Crisis Looms in Afghanistan
17 March 2025, Kabul, Afghanistan – The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a grave warning regarding the potential closure of 80% of its essential health care services in Afghanistan due to severe funding shortages. This alarming situation threatens to leave millions, particularly vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and displaced individuals, without access to critical medical care. As of early March, 167 health facilities have already shut down, impacting 1.6 million people across 25 provinces.
Imminent Facility Closures Threaten Lives
The WHO has indicated that without immediate intervention, an additional 220 health facilities could close by June 2025, further depriving 1.8 million Afghans of primary health care services. The most affected regions, including Northern, Western, and Northeastern Afghanistan, have seen over a third of their health care centers shut down. This situation raises urgent concerns about a looming humanitarian crisis. Dr. Edwin Ceniza Salvador, WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Afghanistan, emphasized the real-life implications of these closures, stating, “These closures are not just numbers on a report; they represent mothers unable to give birth safely and children missing lifesaving vaccinations.”
Health Emergencies Escalate Amid Funding Cuts
Afghanistan is grappling with multiple health emergencies, including outbreaks of measles, malaria, dengue, polio, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. The shutdown of health facilities severely hampers efforts to control these diseases. In the first two months of 2025 alone, over 16,000 suspected measles cases were reported, resulting in 111 deaths. Immunization rates have plummeted to critically low levels, with only 51% of children receiving the first dose of the measles vaccine and a mere 37% receiving the second dose. This leaves children at an increased risk of preventable illnesses and fatalities.
Funding Shortages Complicate Health Care Coordination
Disruptions to WHO-led coordination mechanisms are further complicating the situation, hindering health partners from effectively tracking disease outbreaks, allocating resources, and delivering essential services. This threatens to plunge Afghanistan’s already fragile health care system into deeper crisis. While some donors continue to provide support, overall funding has significantly decreased as development aid priorities have shifted. The WHO warns that the current level of assistance is insufficient to sustain critical health care services for millions of Afghans.
A Call for Urgent Action
Dr. Salvador has underscored the urgency of the situation, stating, “This is not just about funding. It is a humanitarian emergency that threatens to undo years of progress in strengthening Afghanistan’s health system.” He cautioned that every day without collective support results in more suffering, preventable deaths, and lasting damage to the country’s health care infrastructure. The WHO is calling for immediate action to avert a disaster that could have devastating consequences for the Afghan population.
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