The Taliban's Healthcare Nightmare
Loss of foreign aid together with Taliban rights violations have caused a catastrophic health crisis in Afghanistan.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the country’s economy has collapsed. Donor countries’ decisions to reduce humanitarian aid, which in large part funded Afghanistan’s public health system, have weakened health care access, destabilized the economy, and worsened food insecurity. The crisis has left millions increasingly vulnerable to malnutrition and illness.
The Taliban’s role
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s abusive policies have exacerbated this disaster. Bans on education for women and girls have blocked most training for female healthcare workers, ensuring shortages for the foreseeable future. The severe obstructions on women both providing or accessing healthcare, and the soaring cost of treatment and medicine, have put healthcare out of reach for many Afghans.
Before the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, the Afghan government depended on donor countries’ support to fund services like primary health care, even as Afghans paid most healthcare costs from their own pockets. This left the system vulnerable to collapse if aid disappeared.
Today, humanitarian organizations struggle to fill the void.
Economic Crisis
While affording healthcare has always been difficult for Afghans living in poverty, many more now also struggle to pay for food and are often unable to pay for medicine and transportation to reach health services.
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The United Nations estimates that?23.7 million people?– more than half of Afghanistan’s population – will need humanitarian assistance in 2024. While humanitarian agencies provide life-saving assistance, they cannot replace all the essential services that had previously depended on donor support.
As millions in Afghanistan face life-threatening conditions, the situation requires more than humanitarian aid. It requires international donors to condemn Taliban abuses while supporting necessary healthcare and essential services to help alleviate the population’s suffering.
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I write for freedom and democracy. I write for human beings. But there is no one to read.
8 个月Subject: Urgent Appeal for Assistance and Protection Dear Mr. Antonio Guterres, I hope this letter finds you well. My name is [Shoresh Mohi], and I am writing to you as a journalist who has been living in Turkey as a refugee along with my spouse and three children for the past six years, facing dire security, economic, and health conditions. During my time in Iranian prison, I endured severe torture, resulting in profound depression. Despite my current state, I am forced to witness the daily struggle for survival and the bleak future my children face. It has been six years since we registered with the United Nations, yet we find ourselves in constant danger without any tangible support. I implore you to consider the urgency of our situation and the ongoing risks to our lives. It is disheartening that, despite the passage of six years since our registration with the United Nations, we have not received the assistance and attention we so desperately need. I beseech you to advocate for our case and bring attention to the plight of my family and me. Your intervention could make a significant difference in ensuring our safety and securing a better future for our children. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely,
Muhammad kashif shahzad niazi
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DIRECTOR
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