Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – United Nations officials have issued a stark warning that the suspension of US foreign aid programs could lead to a dramatic increase in maternal deaths and unintended pregnancies across Afghanistan and other parts of South Asia.
Pio Smith, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, announced on Tuesday that the UNFPA will be forced to suspend critical services in the region due to the withdrawal of US funding. In Afghanistan alone, nearly 600 health and counseling centers are expected to close, leaving millions of women and girls without access to life-saving care.
“In Afghanistan, between 2025 and 2028, we estimate that the absence of US support will result in 1,200 additional maternal deaths,” Smith said. He also warned that the funding gap could lead to 109,000 unintended pregnancies, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn nation.
The impact of the aid suspension extends beyond Afghanistan. In Pakistan, 1.7 million people, including 1.2 million Afghan refugees, will lose access to essential sexual and reproductive health services. Similarly, around 600,000 people in Bangladesh are expected to be cut off from maternal and reproductive health care.
The UNFPA has stated that it requires over $308 million to maintain its operations in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. However, the suspension of US aid has left a significant funding shortfall, putting millions of lives at risk.
The US, which contributed approximately 47 percent of the world’s humanitarian appeal last year, paused nearly all its foreign aid programs on January 24 pending a 90-day review. This decision follows President Trump’s recent executive order to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
In response to the aid suspension, Smith urged the US to reconsider its position, stating, “We hope that the US Government will retain its position as a global leader in development and continue to work with UNFPA to alleviate the suffering of women.”
The UNFPA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, plays a critical role in preventing maternal deaths, combating gender-based violence, and providing family planning services. The agency’s work is grounded in international law, which recognizes women’s sexual and reproductive health as a fundamental human right under treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, UN officials are calling for urgent international support to bridge the funding gap and prevent further loss of life.
