The U.S. aid suspension has forced malnutrition treatment centers in Afghanistan to close, endangering the lives of millions of children. Humanitarian organizations face layoffs and funding shortages, impacting care for vulnerable populations. The crisis also highlights the larger humanitarian issues present in Afghanistan, especially among women affected by employment restrictions.
In Afghanistan, a malnutrition treatment center has been forced to halt operations due to cuts in U.S. aid. Once fully funded by Washington, the center faces closure as the U.S. suspends all foreign assistance, impacting countless malnourished children. Cobi Rietveld, country director for Action Against Hunger, stated that without treatment, these children face an extremely high risk of death.
In March, following the last patient’s departure, the clinic locked its pharmacy and stored away its equipment, ending care for many children who had relied on its services. Chief doctor Farid Ahmad Barakzai highlighted the difficulty staff face in directing patients to other facilities lacking specialized treatment.
Afghanistan currently endures a major humanitarian crisis, with the UN identifying the country as having the second largest crisis globally, following Sudan. Each month, the clinic previously treated around 65 children with severe malnutrition, helping them recover physically and preventing further illness.
Statistics indicate that about 3.5 million children under five are acutely malnourished, with stunting rates among the highest worldwide. The crisis also extends to adults, as 15 million Afghans experience food insecurity, with 3.1 million nearing famine, as noted by the World Food Programme.
Edwin Ceniza Salvador, a representative from the World Health Organization in Afghanistan, remarked on the fragility of the system, stating even basic care is lacking, which severely affects the most vulnerable.
The funding cuts have resulted in significant layoffs within the humanitarian sector, with 150 of the 900 staff at Action Against Hunger losing their jobs. Women, many of whom worked in the child nutrition center, have been disproportionately affected due to Taliban-imposed restrictions that limit their employment and educational opportunities.
Nurse Wazhma Noorzai expressed her despair, stating that the health center was one of the few places where women could work. Action Against Hunger is now seeking alternative funding sources to recover from the loss of U.S. support, which constituted 30 percent of their budget. Rietveld indicated that while they are looking for new donors, existing support may not suffice to fully bridge the gap.
The suspension of U.S. aid in Afghanistan has led to significant challenges, particularly for malnourished children who are now at an elevated risk of death without treatment. Humanitarian organizations are struggling to cope with funding shortages, resulting in layoff crises that profoundly affect women in the workforce. The overall humanitarian situation remains dire, emphasizing the need for urgent international support to address the ongoing crisis.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
