In a statement released in the capital, UNFPA’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Pio Smith, expressed his concern about the US aid cuts, and said that this decision will have catastrophic consequences in Afghanistan.

On January 24, the US Administration halted almost its entire foreign aid program pending a 90-day review.

In response, UNFPA suspended US grant-funded services that provide a lifeline to women and girls in crisis situations in several regions, including South Asia.

If I take Afghanistan as an example, between 2025 and 2028 we estimate that the absence of US support will result in 1,200 additional maternal deaths and 109,000 additional unwanted pregnancies, Smith warned.

For its part, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also reported that 89% of Afghan families are in need of humanitarian aid.

On the issue, the Ministry of Economy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan emphasized that humanitarian aid must be kept separate from political issues.

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