Millions of Afghans lose access to healthcare services as USAID cuts shut clinics | Global development

More than 200 health facilities managed by the World Health Organization in Afghanistan, providing medical care 1.84 million people, Close or stop working After the American aid discounts announced by the Trump administration, life -saving medical care, including vaccines and mother and child health services.

On his first day in his post in January, President Donald Trump announced an immediate freezing of all US foreign assistance, including more than 40 billion dollars (32 billion pounds) for international projects coming from UsaidThe United States Agency for International Development. It was later confirmed that more than 80 % of the US International Development Agency programs have been canceled.

in AfghanistanAs health clinics were closed in 28 out of 34 provinces, This leads to a “escalating humanitarian crisis”, according to the World Health Organization with the countries that are already struggling with poverty and spreading diseases such as measles, malaria and polio.

I have already seen Afghanistan High polio cases Because of the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on the vaccination program.

Ajyal Sultani, head of communications at the World Health Organization in Afghanistan, said: “The closure of health facilities outperforms these crises, with the displaced and marginalized societies facing increasing risks to the disease, malnutrition and insufficient medical care,” said Ajyal Sultani, head of communications at the World Health Organization in Afghanistan.

In the worst affected-north, west and northeast of Afghanistan-more than a third of health clinics have now been closed, according to 220 other health facilities in June due to lack of funding.

In some rural areas, clinics were the only arrival that locals had health services. The problem is exacerbated by the Taliban restrictions on women traveling without a male relative as the “guardian”.

Other humanitarian organizations also feel the pressure of US financing cuts through their global programs. The children stated that she had to close 18 of its 32 clinics due to lack of financing. A spokesman for the Guardian said: “The remaining 14 have only enough financing to stay open for another month,” said a spokesman for the Guardian. “These 32 clinics supported more than 134,000 children in January alone.”

Abd al -*, who is the coordinator of health projects in Hirat, western Afghanistan, told the Guardian that his organization had forced 23 of its facilities, including mobile health teams, after it lost funding in January. I relied on support from international organizations.

“These clinics were in remote areas in Hirat County in nine areas where people were unable to access health services. We covered a population of approximately 120,000, including many women and children, and at least 20,000 new mothers and expected.

“We were able to secure some funding from a different source and temporarily resume four clinics,” he said, but most people who help them stay without any health care services.

Abdel -Akli said that the local residents appealed to doctors and health care workers to keep clinics open. Since the closure, people of these societies have been communicating with us through religious leaders and Shorras [gatherings of tribal elders] We ask us to reopen clinics.

“Unfortunately, I tell them, with all transparency, that there is little that we can do now,” he said.

Those who said that the availability of health care for Afghan could now increase more bad. “Ending American financing may lead other donors to expand their humanitarian assistance or withdraw their humanitarian assistance,” Sultani said. “This would exacerbate operational challenges and reduce the ability to provide life -saving services.”

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) confirmed that it had to close two centers for the resources of society who were providing housing, food and other support for the internally displaced Afghans, with two others at the risk of closing.

“I want to confirm that NRC Afghanistan does not close its operations.”

*The name has been changed