WHO reports closure of 202 health facilities in Afghanistan amid funding cuts
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported the suspension or closure of 202 humanitarian health facilities across Afghanistan by March 25, due to a sharp reduction in funding. The closures, detailed in the organization’s March situation report, directly affect an estimated 1.8 million people across 28 provinces and pose a serious risk of further deterioration in the country’s fragile healthcare system.
According to WHO, the affected facilities include 108 mobile health and nutrition teams, 33 family health centers, 20 primary health centers, 22 sub-health centers, and 19 other health facilities. The organization noted that the number may fluctuate weekly depending on the financial capacities of humanitarian partners.
WHO has urged international donors to provide urgent support to restore essential health services, warning of “further deterioration” in health outcomes if aid is not mobilized promptly.
The report also highlighted a concerning rise in infectious diseases during March. Suspected measles cases reached 12,535, resulting in 82 deaths—a 42.8% increase compared to February. Additionally, 794 malaria cases were reported, marking a 10% rise, although no related deaths were recorded.
Respiratory infections, including pneumonia, accounted for 139,226 cases and 309 deaths, representing an 18.9% decrease from the previous month. Other recorded illnesses included 7,128 cases of severe diarrhea, 18 cases of dengue fever, and 29 cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, underlining the ongoing health challenges in a country grappling with a deepening humanitarian crisis.
