Every Two Hours, a Mother Loses Her Life: The Human Toll of Taliban Rule in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is facing a dire healthcare crisis under Taliban rule, with alarming rates of maternal and child mortality, an article published on Hasht-e-Subh Daily revealed yesterday.

The European Union (EU) reports that every two hours, a mother dies from pregnancy-related complications, and only 10% of women have access to primary healthcare. The country has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates globally, exacerbated by a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, which account for nearly 50% of deaths, with women comprising half of these casualties.

In response, the EU plans to allocate €31 million to improve healthcare, with funds directed to the World Health Organization and the United Nations Population Fund. However, challenges remain, including a lack of trained professionals and limited resources. Currently, 3.2 million children under five and 840,000 pregnant women suffer from acute malnutrition, raising concerns about their survival and long-term health outcomes.