Health Crisis Looms in Afghanistan as Clinics Close Due to US Funding Cuts

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.

More than 200 health facilities operated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan have ceased operations due to significant cuts in U.S. aid, affecting approximately 1.84 million people. This follows the Trump administration's freeze on foreign assistance, which halted over $40 billion allocated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). According to the WHO, the closure of clinics across 28 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces has intensified an existing humanitarian crisis, as the country faces poverty and widespread outbreaks of diseases such as measles, malaria, and polio. Ajyal Sultany, head of communications at WHO in Afghanistan, noted that marginalized communities are especially vulnerable due to the lack of medical care. Other organizations, including Save the Children, have also been severely impacted by funding shortages, leading to the closure of many clinics that support children's health. “The communities are reaching out to us for help, but we have little to offer,” said Abdul, a health project coordinator. With additional closures anticipated due to ongoing funding issues, experts warn that healthcare access in Afghanistan may deteriorate further.