Malnourished children in Afghanistan are at high risk of death following US funding cuts that have closed treatment centers. Approximately 3.5 million children suffer from acute malnutrition, while the aid cuts have also led to significant job losses, particularly impacting women in the healthcare sector. Urgent new funding is needed to address the escalating humanitarian crisis.
Malnourished children in Afghanistan are facing a dire situation as funding cuts from the United States have severely impacted aid services. The malnutrition treatment center in Kabul, managed by Action Against Hunger (ACF), has had to close its doors to patients, leaving many children untreated. The organization’s country director, Cobi Rietveld, stated that without treatment, these children are at an “extreme high risk of dying.”
As medical staff are laid off and essential services are suspended, the clinic struggles to communicate to families the necessity of seeking care elsewhere. Chief Doctor Farid Ahmad Barakzai emphasized the difficulty of redirecting patients to facilities lacking specialized treatment, further highlighting the urgency of the situation. Afghanistan is experiencing a significant humanitarian crisis, second only to Sudan, according to the United Nations.
The clinic typically treated an average of 65 children monthly suffering from severe acute malnutrition, but the halt of services exacerbates an already critical public health situation. Approximately 3.5 million children under five are acutely malnourished in Afghanistan, combined with alarming rates of stunting. Additionally, 15 million Afghans are food insecure amidst an environment of ongoing crises and economic shocks.
The recent funding cuts from the US have caused considerable layoffs within the humanitarian sector, drastically affecting employment in a country where the unemployment rate was already high. Women, comprising a significant portion of ACF’s workforce, have been particularly disadvantaged by these changes, facing restrictions imposed by Taliban authorities that limit their professional opportunities. Nurse Wazhma Noorzai expressed the gravity of this loss as the only employment opportunities for many women vanish.
To address this funding crisis, ACF is actively pursuing new proposals and discussions with potential donors, although Rietveld acknowledged the difficulty in closing the funding gap left by the US cuts, which accounted for 30 percent of the organization’s local budget.
In conclusion, the closure of malnutrition treatment centers in Afghanistan due to US aid cuts poses a grave risk to the well-being of countless children. The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan remains acute, with millions suffering from malnutrition and food insecurity. The need for sustained international support and alternative funding sources for humanitarian organizations is critical to prevent further loss of life.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
