Unanimously adopting decision 2777 (2025), the 15-member council careworn the “vital significance” of a continued presence of UNAMA and different UN businesses throughout Afghanistan.
The council additionally expressed appreciation for the UN’s long-term dedication to the nation and its individuals, reiterating its full assist for UNAMA and the Particular Consultant of the Secretary-Normal who leads the mission.
Ambassadors additionally expressed “critical concern” over the continued presence of terrorist teams in Afghanistan, and highlighted the necessity to fight the manufacturing, commerce and trafficking of illicit medication and chemical compounds used to fabricate narcotics.
They careworn the necessity to enhance catastrophe threat discount, as disasters worsen the humanitarian and socio-economic disaster.
Cuts might shut down 80 per cent of WHO programmes
In the meantime, the UN World Health Group (WHO) in Afghanistan warned on Monday that funding shortages might pressure the closure of 80 per cent of the company’s health providers there, leaving hundreds of thousands with out entry to vital medical care.
As of 4 March, 167 health services in 25 provinces needed to shut down resulting from lack of cash. An extra 220 services might shut by June, affecting probably the most weak populations – ladies, youngsters, the aged and the displaced and returnees.
“These closures are usually not simply numbers on a report, they characterize moms unable to present delivery safely, youngsters lacking lifesaving vaccinations, total communities left with out safety from lethal illness outbreaks,” stated Edwin Ceniza Salvador, WHO’s high official in Afghanistan.
“The results will probably be measured in lives misplaced,” he warned.
Eighty p.c of WHO-supported services in Afghanistan threat shutdown by June.
Dire health disaster
Even earlier than the funding cuts, Afghanistan had been battling a number of health emergencies, together with outbreaks of measles, malaria, dengue, polio and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.
Over 16,000 suspected measles circumstances, together with 111 deaths, had been reported in January and February 2025. Kids are most in danger of sickness and dying, given “critically low” vaccination charges – solely 51 per cent for first dose and 37 per cent for the second.
Whereas some donors proceed to assist Afghanistan’s health sector, funding has been considerably diminished as growth help priorities have shifted in current months.
Sources for broader humanitarian efforts within the nation stay unsure. With the primary quarter coming to an finish, the UN-coordinated $2.4 billion Afghanistan Humanitarian Wants and Response Plan for 2025 is simply about 13 per cent funded.
“This isn’t nearly funding,” stated Dr. Salvador.
Useful resource necessities for health programmes below the Afghanistan Humanitarian Wants and Response Plan 2025
“It’s a humanitarian emergency that threatens to undo years of progress in strengthening Afghanistan’s health system … day by day that passes with out our collective assist brings extra struggling, extra preventable deaths and lasting harm to the nation’s health care infrastructure.”
UNAMA in Afghanistan
Established in 2002, UNAMA is a political mission which facilitates dialogue between political leaders in Afghanistan, regional stakeholders and the worldwide group, to advertise inclusive governance and battle prevention.
The deputy chief of the mission can also be in cost of coordinating the UN’s in depth help operation in cooperation with the de facto Taliban authorities since they returned to energy in 2021.
Additionally it is mandated by the Security Council to watch and report on the human rights state of affairs, with a give attention to ladies’s rights, minorities and weak teams.
UNAMA additionally helps regional cooperation, encouraging engagement between Afghanistan and neighbouring international locations on points associated to safety, stability and financial growth.
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