The World Health Organization has warned that a lack of funding and resources to support Afghanistan’s health care system threatens millions of lives in a country ravaged by decades of instability and natural disasters.
Through its new alert launched Friday, the WHO urged the global community to help address the Afghan health crisis, saying “the consequences of inaction are catastrophic.”
The WHO noted that unless investment is ramped up, 8 million Afghans will lose access to essential and potentially lifesaving health assistance, and 450,000 patients will have little to no access to lifesaving trauma care services.
Additionally, an estimated 1.6 million people with mental health conditions will have little to no access to mental health consultation and psychosocial support.
“The situation in Afghanistan is grave, and the lack of resources and funding to support health workers and facilities is putting countless lives at risk,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Women and children are suffering the most. I call on donors to give generously so that we can continue our lifesaving work,” he urged.
The U.N. has appealed for $3.26 billion in humanitarian funding for Afghanistan this year but donors have given only about $800 million — less than 25% of the appeal — as of August 8. More than two-thirds of the country’s estimated 40 million population need urgent assistance.
“The vulnerability of women and girls has further intensified, as they face increased obstacles in accessing healthcare due to the ban on education and workforce participation,” the WHO noted Friday.
The hardline Taliban government, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, or IEA, has imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s access to work and education since retaking control in August of 2021. It has also banned Afghan female staff of the United Nations and other aid groups from workplaces, undermining humanitarian operations nationwide.
This article originally appeared in www.voanews.com August 18 2023 . Original link.
