The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Afghanistan’s health system is on the verge of total collapse, leaving more than 22 million Afghans in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
According to the report, a severe shortage of funding, Taliban-imposed restrictions on women’s education and employment, and the decline in international aid are the key factors driving the crisis. Only 24% of the required funding has been secured, and more than 420 health centers have been shut down, depriving millions of Afghans of access to basic medical care.
Since the Taliban took power, bans on women’s education and work have caused a shortage of female health workers, leading to a sharp rise in maternal and child mortality.
The United Nations reports that in Afghanistan one woman dies every two hours during childbirth. Taliban hardline policies, combined with international sanctions and the suspension of U.S. assistance, have worsened the situation.
Health risks such as maternal and child mortality, malnutrition, outbreaks of measles and polio, and mental health crises are spreading rapidly—problems that experts say are directly linked to the Taliban’s failed governance.
