Latest news with #EdwinCenizaSalvador
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
More than 10% of Afghans could lose healthcare by year-end: WHO
More than 10 percent of the Afghan population could be deprived of healthcare by the end of the year due to the termination of US aid, the World Health Organization warned Tuesday. Afghanistan, with a population of 45 million that has long been dependent on aid, faces the world's second-largest humanitarian crisis. Since US funding cuts earlier this year, about three million people have lost access to health services because of the closure of more than 364 medical centres, with a further 220 centres at risk of closing by the third quarter of 2025, the UN's health agency said. That would mean more than half of the 1,068 centres across the country would be closed, Edwin Ceniza Salvador, the WHO representative in Afghanistan, told AFP in an interview. "That's maybe another two or three million people who have no access to healthcare services," Salvador said in Kabul. "When the funding stopped, of course the existing donors tried to step up. But you're talking about a significant gap to US funding," he added. Afghanistan's dilapidated healthcare system has been weakened by decades of war and records some of the world's highest infant and maternal mortality rates. The global aid situation has grown dire since President Donald Trump ordered the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development early this year, and to begin Washington's withdrawal from the WHO. His administration scrapped 83 percent of humanitarian programmes funded by USAID. The agency had an annual budget of $42.8 billion, representing 42 percent of total global humanitarian aid. "The system is already very fragile, and whatever system is remaining, is really coping the best that they can," Salvador said. "It's only getting worse, and if we're not able to collectively address the gap, I fear that it will only get worse moving forward." The risk of disease outbreaks such as dengue, malaria and tuberculosis will increase, while immunisations will fall, Salvador added. The WHO is also trying to vaccinate enough children to eradicate polio, which is now endemic in only two countries: Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) this month urged international donors to continue supporting the 22.9 million Afghans in need of aid this year. Eighty-five percent of Afghans live on less than a dollar a day, according to the UN's development agency (UNDP). "I know there are a lot of priorities, different priorities in the world," Salvador said. "My request is let us also not forget about the needs of Afghanistan and the people of Afghanistan." cgo/sw/rsc
Al Arabiya
15-04-2025
- Health
- Al Arabiya
More than 10 percent of Afghans could lose healthcare by year-end: WHO
More than 10 percent of the Afghan population could be deprived of healthcare by the end of the year due to the termination of US aid, the World Health Organization warned Tuesday. Afghanistan, with a population of 45 million that has long been dependent on aid, faces the world's second-largest humanitarian crisis. Since US funding cuts earlier this year, about three million people have lost access to health services because of the closure of more than 364 medical centers, with a further 220 centers at risk of closing by the third quarter of 2025, the UN's health agency said. 'That's maybe another two or three million people who have no access to healthcare services,' Edwin Ceniza Salvador, the WHO representative in Afghanistan, told AFP in an interview in Kabul. 'When the funding stopped, of course the existing donors tried to step up. But you're talking about a significant gap to US funding,' Salvador added. Afghanistan's ramshackle healthcare system has been weakened by decades of war and records some of the world's highest infant and maternal mortality rates. The global aid situation has grown dire since President Donald Trump ordered the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development early this year, and to begin Washington's withdrawal from WHO. His administration scrapped 83 percent of humanitarian programs funded by USAID. The agency had an annual budget of $42.8 billion, representing 42 percent of total global humanitarian aid. 'The system is already very fragile, and whatever system is remaining, is really coping the best that they can,' Salvador said. 'It's only getting worse, and if we're not able to collectively address the gap, I fear that it will only get worse moving forward.' The risk of disease outbreaks such as dengue, malaria and tuberculosis will increase, while immunizations will fall, Salvador added. The WHO is also trying to vaccinate enough children to eradicate polio, which is now endemic in only two countries: Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) this month urged international donors to continue supporting the 22.9 million Afghans in need of aid this year. According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 85 percent of Afghans live on less than a dollar a day.
Jordan Times
18-03-2025
- Health
- Jordan Times
WHO says 80% of Afghanistan operations risk shutdown by June
KABUL — The World Health Organisation said Monday 80 per cent of services that it supports in Afghanistan could shut down by June due to a funding shortage. The UN health agency said the cash shortfall, which comes amid massive US aid cuts, is tied to a shift in 'development aid priorities'. 'Without urgent intervention, over 220 more facilities could close by June 2025, leaving an additional 1.8 million Afghans without access to primary health care,' WHO said in a statement. The agency said that 167 such operations have already closed due to a lack of financial support. 'The consequences will be measured in lives lost,' said WHO's Afghanistan chief Edwin Ceniza Salvador. 'This is not just about funding. It is a humanitarian emergency that threatens to undo years of progress in strengthening Afghanistan's health system,' Salvador added. WHO has been sounding the alarm since US President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the agency. This pullout and the end of Washington's contributions put at risk the global measles surveillance network, which until now has been entirely funded by Washington. Afghanistan saw more than 16,000 suspected measles cases and 111 deaths in January and February, according to WHO. The figures are disputed by the Taliban authorities, who returned to power in 2021 with the ousting of the US-backed government. The Taliban government is not recognised internationally and relies largely on NGOs, UN agencies and aid donors to keep the health system afloat. WHO said Afghanistan is also facing 'multiple health emergencies', including outbreaks of malaria and dengue. There are ongoing efforts to vaccinate enough children to eradicate polio, which remains endemic in only two countries: Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan. The lack of funds has also hit Save the Children, which said last week 18 health facilities supported by the charity and its partners have closed. 'Only 14 Save the Children clinics have enough funding to remain open for one more month, and without new financial support, they will be forced to close. These 32 clinics supported over 134,000 children in January alone,' the charity said. In addition, Afghanistan suffers one of the world's highest maternal mortality ratios of 638 per 100,000 live births. This is likely to worsen due to the US funding cuts, with the UN forecasting an additional 1,200 maternal deaths between now and 2028. Malnutrition is also widespread in the country, which is facing economic, humanitarian and climate crises after being battered by four decades of war. Ten percent of children under five are malnourished and 45 percent are stunted, the UN says. Page 2
Daily Tribune
18-03-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
WHO says 80% of Afghanistan operations risk shutdown by June
The World Health Organization said Monday 80 percent of services that it supports in Afghanistan could shut down by June due to a funding shortage. The UN health agency said the cash shortfall, which comes amid massive US aid cuts, is tied to a shift in "development aid priorities". "Without urgent intervention, over 220 more facilities could close by June 2025, leaving an additional 1.8 million Afghans without access to primary health care," WHO said in a statement. The agency said that 167 such operations have already closed due to a lack of financial support. "The consequences will be measured in lives lost," said WHO's Afghanistan chief Edwin Ceniza Salvador. "This is not just about funding. It is a humanitarian emergency that threatens to undo years of progress in strengthening Afghanistan's health system," Salvador added. WHO has been sounding the alarm since US President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the agency. This pullout and the end of Washington's contributions put at risk the global measles surveillance network, which until now has been entirely funded by Washington. Afghanistan saw more than 16,000 suspected measles cases and 111 deaths in January and February, according to WHO. The figures are disputed by the Taliban authorities, who returned to power in 2021 with the ousting of the US-backed government. The Taliban government is not recognised internationally and relies largely on NGOs, UN agencies and aid donors to keep the health system afloat. - 'Multiple health emergencies' - WHO said Afghanistan is also facing "multiple health emergencies", including outbreaks of malaria and dengue. There are ongoing efforts to vaccinate enough children to eradicate polio, which remains endemic in only two countries: Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan. The lack of funds has also hit Save the Children, which said last week 18 health facilities supported by the charity and its partners have closed. "Only 14 Save the Children clinics have enough funding to remain open for one more month, and without new financial support, they will be forced to close. These 32 clinics supported over 134,000 children in January alone," the charity said. In addition, Afghanistan suffers one of the world's highest maternal mortality ratios of 638 per 100,000 live births. This is likely to worsen due to the US funding cuts, with the UN forecasting an additional 1,200 maternal deaths between now and 2028. Malnutrition is also widespread in the country, which is facing economic, humanitarian and climate crises after being battered by four decades of war. Ten percent of children under five are malnourished and 45 percent are stunted, the UN says.
Express Tribune
17-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
WHO flags funding shortage risk in Afghanistan
A Taliban security personnel stands guard as Afghan burqa-clad women wait to receive free iftar meals in Kabul. Photo: AFP The World Health Organization said Monday 80 percent of services that it supports in Afghanistan could shut down by June due to a funding shortage. The UN health agency said the cash shortfall, which comes amid massive US aid cuts, is tied to a shift in "development aid priorities". "Without urgent intervention, over 220 more facilities could close by June 2025, leaving an additional 1.8 million Afghans without access to primary health care," WHO said in a statement. The agency said that 167 such operations have already closed due to a lack of financial support. "The consequences will be measured in lives lost," said WHO's Afghanistan chief Edwin Ceniza Salvador. "This is not just about funding. It is a humanitarian emergency that threatens to undo years of progress in strengthening Afghanistan's health system," Salvador added. WHO has been sounding the alarm since US President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the agency. This pullout and the end of Washington's contributions put at risk the global measles surveillance network, which until now has been entirely funded by Washington. Afghanistan saw more than 16,000 suspected measles cases and 111 deaths in January and February, according to WHO. The figures are disputed by the Taliban authorities, who returned to power in 2021 with the ousting of the US-backed government. The Taliban government is not recognised internationally and relies largely on NGOs, UN agencies and aid donors to keep the health system afloat. WHO said Afghanistan is also facing "multiple health emergencies", including outbreaks of malaria and dengue. There are ongoing efforts to vaccinate enough children to eradicate polio, which remains endemic in only two countries: Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan
