GENEVA:A major UN health agency issued a warning on Tuesday, stating that a reduction in U.S. aid could lead to an additional 1,200 maternal deaths in Afghanistan due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications by 2028.
Following his inauguration last month, President Trump signed an executive order halting U.S. foreign development aid for 90 days. While waivers were later granted for food and essential humanitarian assistance, aid workers have expressed concerns that the reduction in aid is already severely affecting some of the most vulnerable populations globally.
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) confirmed that it had suspended services funded by U.S. grants, which had been crucial for women and girls in crisis zones, particularly in South Asia. Pio Smith, the UNFPAβs regional director for Asia and the Pacific, expressed concern over the significant loss of funding, noting the particularly dire situation in Afghanistan. There, a woman dies from preventable pregnancy-related complications every two hours, making it one of the most dangerous countries for childbirth.
Smith estimated that between 2025 and 2028, the withdrawal of U.S. support could result in 1,200 additional maternal deaths and 109,000 unintended pregnancies in Afghanistan alone.
Though the UNFPA had anticipated potential funding cuts under a Republican administration, Smith explained that they did not expect the U.S. to cut funds that had already been committed to the agency by USAID. This halt in funding directly affects vital maternal and reproductive health programs, as well as psychosocial support services.
In his region alone, Smith revealed that the UNFPA requires over $308 million this year to maintain essential services in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
