KABUL, Afghanistan — The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that restricted access to healthcare for Afghan women and mothers in emergency situations is driving up maternal mortality and illness rates across the country.
In a statement posted on X, the organization highlighted how reduced access to healthcare services, including by midwives and nurses, is severely impacting maternal health.
“Despite the challenges, we are committed to providing lifesaving healthcare to mothers in remote areas,” the UNFPA said, emphasizing its efforts to support vulnerable populations.
The agency previously warned that pregnant and breastfeeding women in Afghanistan are facing heightened risks due to the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. These risks, it noted, stem from broader systemic issues, including the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights.
A report from the United Nations earlier this year noted that the Taliban’s ban on women’s education and employment is contributing to a rise in early forced marriages and increasing maternal and infant mortality rates.
Additionally, the World Health Organization has reported that the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s work in aid organizations, particularly in the healthcare sector, have further limited women’s access to essential services.
Last week, a pregnant woman in Farsi district of Herat province died on her way to a hospital, her family confirmed to Amu. The woman, identified as Zarmina, passed away before giving birth due to the long distance between her home and the nearest medical facility.
Her family said the lack of local healthcare services forced them to attempt to transport her to a hospital in Herat city, but she died en route.
Poor road conditions and a lack of adequately equipped healthcare centers in rural districts are cited as major causes of maternal mortality in western Afghanistan.
