Afghanistan: Security Council renews UN mission as WHO warns of severe health catastrophe
The UN Security Council has renewed its mission in Afghanistan amid alarming warnings from WHO about a looming health crisis.
The UN Security Council has unanimously extended the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for another year, emphasizing the critical need for continued international support, the organization’s website reported. The resolution highlights the urgent humanitarian situation as UN agencies report significant declines in resources for lifesaving aid.
The council expressed deep concern over the ongoing presence of terrorist groups and the escalating issues surrounding the production and trafficking of illicit drugs. Ambassadors underscored the importance of improving disaster risk reduction strategies to mitigate the worsening humanitarian and socio-economic crises.
Compounding these challenges, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that funding shortages could lead to the closure of 80% of its health services in Afghanistan, jeopardizing access to critical medical care for millions. As of early March, 167 health facilities had already shut down due to financial constraints, with an additional 220 at risk of closure by June.
The country is grappling with multiple health emergencies, including measles and polio outbreaks, exacerbated by alarmingly low vaccination rates. WHO’s top official in Afghanistan, Edwin Ceniza Salvador, stressed that these closures represent real lives at stake, with vulnerable populations—particularly women and children—facing dire consequences.
With only 13% of the $2.4 billion needed for humanitarian efforts funded, the situation in Afghanistan remains precarious, threatening years of progress in health care.
