The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) warns that halting US aid will lead to 1,200 more maternal deaths in Afghanistan by 2028, intensifying an already dire health crisis. The agency emphasizes the critical role of US funding in preventing maternal mortality and addressing gender-based violence.
The UN Population Fund ( UNFPA ) issued a stark warning on Tuesday, stating that the halting of US aid will lead to 1,200 additional maternal deaths in Afghanistan by 2028. This prediction exacerbates an already dire situation in the country, where a mother dies from preventable pregnancy complications every two hours.
The UNFPA highlighted that the US aid cuts, implemented through an executive order signed by President Donald Trump shortly after his inauguration, are already impacting vulnerable populations globally. While Trump's administration has granted waivers for food and other humanitarian aid, the UNFPA asserts that the consequences are being felt across critical health services. The agency revealed that between 2025 and 2028, the absence of US support will result in an estimated 1,200 additional maternal deaths and 109,000 additional unintended pregnancies in Afghanistan. The UNFPA, which provides sexual and reproductive health services in over 150 countries, has been particularly active in mitigating maternal mortality and addressing gender-based violence. They emphasize that US contributions, including those from the USAID humanitarian agency, have been instrumental in preventing 3,800 likely deaths during pregnancy in 2023 alone. The agency acknowledges a recurring pattern of funding reductions during Republican administrations, but the current halt of previously committed funds from USAID presents a unique challenge. UNFPA regional director for Asia and the Pacific, Pio Smith, stated that the agency requires over $308 million this year to sustain essential services in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. He painted a grim picture of the situation in Afghanistan, where women are often forced to give birth alone in unsanitary conditions, leading to preventable newborn deaths and leaving survivors of gender-based violence without access to medical or psychological support. Smith also noted that Elon Musk, known for his ambitious plans to restructure the US government, recently announced the imminent closure of USAID as part of his efforts to reduce the size and scope of the federal agency. The UNFPA's warning underscores the potential human cost of these political decisions and calls for urgent action to protect vulnerable populations in Afghanistan
Health Women's Issues Afghanistan US Aid Afghanistan Maternal Mortality UNFPA Donald Trump Elon Musk USAID Gender-Based Violence
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