Africa at the Crossroads: Great Powers Compete in a New Cold War

Over 200 health facilities operated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan have ceased operations following significant cuts in U.S. aid, impacting 1.84 million people, according to WHO sources. These closures come after the Trump administration's freeze on foreign assistance, which included over $40 billion for international projects from USAID. Health clinics have shut down across 28 of the country's 34 provinces, leading to an escalating humanitarian crisis in a nation already struggling with poverty and outbreaks of diseases such as measles and polio. Ajyal Sultany, head of communications at WHO in Afghanistan, noted that the closure is particularly detrimental to marginalized communities who face increased risks of malnutrition and disease. The situation is aggravated by Taliban restrictions requiring women to have a male guardian to access healthcare. Other organizations, such as Save the Children, have also reported clinic closures due to funding shortfalls, with many areas lacking essential health services. Experts warn that without intervention, the healthcare crisis in Afghanistan may worsen significantly.

Afghanistan's Supreme Court recently defended the Taliban's public executions after four convicted murderers were executed at sports stadiums on Friday, bringing the total number to ten since the group's return to power in 2021, according to Agence France-Presse. The executions, held before large crowds across three provinces, were justified by Supreme Court spokesman Abdul Rahim Rashid as acts of "retribution" mandated by sharia law. Rashid dismissed the United Nations' condemnation of the executions, calling it "unfair and surprising." The UN had expressed outrage, labeling the executions as "fundamentally irreconcilable with human dignity and the right to life." The organization urged the Taliban to impose a moratorium on the death penalty, aiming for its abolition. Human Rights Watch also condemned the actions, stating they represent serious violations of international human rights law and called for accountability measures. Public executions were a hallmark of the Taliban's first rule from 1996 to 2001, reflecting the group's stringent adherence to their interpretation of Islamic law.

Over 200 healthcare facilities in Afghanistan operated by the World Health Organization (WHO) have closed, affecting medical care for approximately 1.84 million individuals. This crisis follows funding cuts from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), implemented during the Trump administration, which suspended more than $40 billion in foreign assistance, leading to the cancellation of over 80% of its programs, as noted by WHO officials. According to Ajyal Sultany, WHO spokesperson in Afghanistan, the closures are exacerbating an existing humanitarian crisis marked by rising cases of diseases such as measles, malaria, and polio. Reports indicate that health clinics in 28 out of 34 provinces have shut down, particularly in the north, west, and northeast, where over a third are no longer operational. Amid these closures, restrictions imposed by the Taliban on female travel without male guardians further complicate access to healthcare for women, including mothers and children. Additionally, organizations like Save the Children and the Norwegian Refugee Council have had to reduce services significantly, highlighting an urgent need for renewed funding to avert a worsening health crisis in Afghanistan.