More than 700 primary health facilities close in Afghanistan

More than 700 primary health facilities in Afghanistan have closed since 2025 following a decline in international aid. AnewZ reports that Bruno Lemarquis, the UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, told journalists in New York on November 6 that more than 700 of the country’s 1,900 primary health facilities had shut down. This represents about 40 percent of the system.

Humanitarian funding for Afghanistan declines

Humanitarian funding for Afghanistan has fallen by more than half, from $2 billion in 2023 to $1 billion in 2025, Lemarquis said. So far in 2026, only $570 million has been received.

He said talks are under way with the authorities in Kabul on how to share the financial burden of maintaining essential healthcare services.

Lemarquis urged the international community to continue its support, saying: “Now is not the time for the international community to turn its back on Afghanistan.”

Acute malnutrition among children rises

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said acute malnutrition among children under five had increased. The rate rose from 9.3 percent in the second quarter of 2026 to 12 percent in the third quarter.

A report published on Sunday said about 20,000 children had been assessed and that malnutrition had reached critical levels in 16 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces.

Zabul and Daykundi are among the hardest-hit provinces, with acute malnutrition identified in about one in four children assessed. According to UNICEF, 46 percent of children in the survey faced moderate or severe food insecurity.

UNICEF has previously warned that the situation could worsen in 2027. The agency projects that more than 4 million children may need treatment for acute malnutrition, including about 1.1 million who could suffer from its most severe form.

UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan Dr Tajudeen Oyewale called for greater investment in prevention and treatment. Stressing the need to act before more children are harmed, he said: “We know what works, and we know that early intervention saves lives.”