Many women came to the clinic that had gone several hours to receive maternal care – some of them with their newborns and some strong pregnant women.
And then there were even health workers who were obliged to serve the distressed in difficult to reach areas of the poor Taliban-controlled nation.
‘Off the Radar’
These were some of the scenes that witnessed close to Andrew Saberton, Deputy CEO with the UN reproductive health agency (UNFPA), on a mission to assess the impact of the recent steep financing cuts.
“I saw and understood the devastating effects that the massive cuts to UNFPA will have in one of the world’s greatest humanitarian crises, A crisis that may be from the radar for the news but is still one of the world’s biggest crises“Mr. Saberton told journalists in New York on Wednesday.
During his journey, the senior official visited UN-supported services in Kabul, Bamyan and the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He hoped to understand the difference that UNFPA makes in Afghanistan, while also getting a better sense of the effect of financing cuts.
Andrew Saberton (second to the right), UNFPA -Vice Director of Management, visits the obstetric fistula department in Kabul, Afghanistan, where the survivors receive care.
Budget cut
The United States has recently announced cuts of approximately $ 330 million to UNFPA worldwide, of which $ 102 million will directly affect UNFPA’s work in Afghanistan, according to Mr. Saberton.
Most of this funding would have been used for the delivery of family health and mobile care, both of which are important in Afghanistan, which already has one of the highest maternal mortality in the world.
This funding would also have gone to the much needed psychosocial support.
He estimates that 6.9 million women and children in Afghanistan will be affected by the cuts. Besides UNFPA will only be able to support approx. 400 of the current 900 health clinics That it supports in Afghanistan, each providing life -saving care.
Provides help with few resources
Despite these challenges, Saberton emphasized that UNFPA will remain in Afghanistan and will continue to provide life -saving care.
“UNFPA becomes to deliver, but we cannot maintain our answers without help. We need urgent support to keep these services going and to protect dignity, health and life for Afghan women and newborns“He said.
