Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – A humanitarian crisis is rapidly escalating across Afghanistan as the abrupt suspension of U.S. foreign aid has led to the widespread closure of health facilities, leaving millions without access to critical medical care.
Over 200 health centers supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), previously serving nearly two million Afghans, have already shut down or halted operations, with an additional 220 projected to close by June. Essential services—ranging from maternal and child healthcare to vaccination programs and tuberculosis treatment—have been suspended in numerous provinces, including Badakhshan, Kabul, and parts of the north and northeast.
International aid organizations such as Save the Children, Action Against Hunger, and the Norwegian Refugee Council have also drastically scaled back or halted services after losing U.S. funding. Mobile clinics, therapeutic feeding centers, mental health services, and disease surveillance efforts have all been disrupted.
The United States had previously accounted for nearly 44% of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. The cuts, part of a broader trend of shrinking global aid budgets, are dismantling life-saving programs at a time when needs are surging due to conflict, economic collapse, and widespread displacement.
Health experts warn the impact on already-vulnerable populations could be catastrophic. “This is not just a funding issue — it’s a matter of life and death for millions of Afghans,” said a representative from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which continues operating but is now overwhelmed by demand and unable to fill the gap alone.
The United Nations has issued an urgent appeal for donors to step in, warning that silence and inaction could result in thousands of preventable deaths in the coming months.
