UN: Afghanistan Still Among Most Dangerous for Mothers, Newborns

UN agency warns Afghanistan remains among the most dangerous places for mothers and newborns, as funding cuts threaten essential health services nationwide.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) says Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries for mothers and newborn babies despite ongoing humanitarian support efforts.

A UNFPA representative stated that 521 newborn deaths occur per 100,000 live births, placing Afghanistan among the highest rates in the Asia-Pacific region.

UNFPA currently supports around 500 family health centers across Afghanistan and plans to deliver essential health services to 4.5 million people next year.

Officials say services focus mainly on remote communities where families often rely on a single clinic and face severe shortages of trained medical staff.

The agency is also working to train unemployed midwives, aiming to strengthen maternal care while thousands of skilled Afghan midwives remain without jobs.

Afghanistan’s prolonged economic crisis, food insecurity, and weakened health infrastructure have worsened conditions for women and newborns, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas.

Humanitarian agencies warn that continued restrictions on women’s education and employment risk creating future shortages of trained female health workers across the country.

Despite funding cuts, UNFPA says it remains committed to supporting Afghan women and children, urging donors to sustain aid to prevent further deterioration in maternal and newborn health.

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