Unanimously adopting resolution 2777 (2025), the 15-member council harassed the “important significance” of a continued presence of UNAMA and different UN companies throughout Afghanistan.
The council additionally expressed appreciation for the UN’s long-term dedication to the nation and its folks, reiterating its full assist for UNAMA and the Particular Consultant of the Secretary-Basic who leads the mission.
Ambassadors additionally expressed “critical concern” over the continued presence of terrorist teams in Afghanistan, and highlighted the necessity to fight the manufacturing, commerce and trafficking of illicit medicine and chemical substances used to fabricate narcotics.
They harassed the necessity to enhance catastrophe threat discount, as disasters worsen the humanitarian and socio-economic disaster.
Cuts might shut down 80 per cent of WHO programmes
In the meantime, the UN World Well being Group (WHO) in Afghanistan warned that funding shortages could force the closure of 80 per cent of the agency’s health services there, leaving thousands and thousands with out entry to important medical care.
As of 4 March, 167 well being services in 25 provinces needed to shut down because of lack of cash. An additional 220 services might shut by June, affecting essentially the most susceptible populations – ladies, youngsters, the aged and the displaced and returnees.
“These closures will not be simply numbers on a report, they symbolize moms unable to offer beginning safely, youngsters lacking lifesaving vaccinations, total communities left with out safety from lethal illness outbreaks,” stated Edwin Ceniza Salvador, WHO’s high official in Afghanistan.
“The implications will likely be measured in lives misplaced,” he warned.
Eighty % of WHO-supported services in Afghanistan threat shutdown by June.
Dire well being disaster
Even earlier than the funding cuts, Afghanistan had been battling a number of well being emergencies, together with outbreaks of measles, malaria, dengue, polio and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.
Over 16,000 suspected measles circumstances, together with 111 deaths, have been reported in January and February 2025. Youngsters are most vulnerable to sickness and demise, given “critically low” vaccination charges – solely 51 per cent for first dose and 37 per cent for the second.
Whereas some donors proceed to assist Afghanistan’s well being sector, funding has been considerably diminished as growth assist priorities have shifted in current months.
Assets for broader humanitarian efforts within the nation stay unsure. With the primary quarter coming to an finish, the UN-coordinated $2.4 billion Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2025 is only about 13 per cent funded.
“This isn’t nearly funding,” stated Dr. Salvador.
Useful resource necessities for well being programmes below the Afghanistan Humanitarian Wants and Response Plan 2025
“It’s a humanitarian emergency that threatens to undo years of progress in strengthening Afghanistan’s well being system … each day that passes with out our collective assist brings extra struggling, extra preventable deaths and lasting harm to the nation’s well being care infrastructure.”
UNAMA in Afghanistan
Established in 2002, UNAMA is a political mission which facilitates dialogue between political leaders in Afghanistan, regional stakeholders and the worldwide neighborhood, to advertise inclusive governance and battle prevention.
The deputy chief of the mission can be accountable for coordinating the UN’s intensive assist operation in cooperation with the de facto Taliban authorities since they returned to energy in 2021.
It’s also mandated by the Security Council to watch and report on the human rights state of affairs, with a give attention to ladies’s rights, minorities and susceptible teams.
UNAMA additionally helps regional cooperation, encouraging engagement between Afghanistan and neighbouring international locations on points associated to safety, stability and financial growth.
