The European Union announced on Thursday that it is providing €31 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, aimed at improving the country’s struggling healthcare system, particularly for women and vulnerable populations.
In a statement, the EU said it has allocated €16 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) and €15 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The funds will be used to improve care for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, and expand reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health services across Afghanistan.
The EU highlighted the “significant challenges” facing Afghanistan’s healthcare system, especially in underserved areas. “Basic health services are available to just 10 percent of women, and maternal, child, and neonatal mortality rates are among the highest in the world,” the statement said. “A mother dies from preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications every two hours, and 25 percent of Afghans live in hard-to-reach areas.”
Non-communicable diseases also present a growing burden, responsible for nearly half of all deaths in the country, with women accounting for half of these fatalities.
“The EU’s financial support, alongside the technical expertise of WHO and UNFPA, ensures that vital health care reaches those in need, particularly in the areas of reproductive health, maternal and child care, and NCD treatment,” said Veronika Boskovic Pohar, the EU Chargée d’Affaires to Afghanistan. She emphasized the EU’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of Afghanistan’s most vulnerable, especially women and children.
WHO’s representative in Afghanistan, Dr. Edwin Ceniza Salvador, noted that the EU’s contribution will allow the organization to expand access to high-quality care for NCDs across seven provinces. “By prioritizing inclusive and equitable health services, we are committed to ensuring that men and women in remote areas receive the critical care they need,” he said.
UNFPA Country Representative Kwabena Asante-Ntiamoah added that the funding will help the agency reach over half a million Afghans, mostly women and girls, through community-based health services.
Nearly 24 million Afghans are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations.
