Critical funding shortfalls threaten the increasing needs of crisis-affected people in Afghanistan, particularly for 7.3 million Afghans - 70 per cent of them women and girls - who require access to lifesaving reproductive health and psychosocial support services, amidst the reduction in global funding for humanitarian assistance.

In a recent mission to Afghanistan, Mr. Andrew Saberton, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director for Management of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, witnessed the influx of Afghan returnees at the Torkham border with Pakistan and the critical need for maternal healthcare and mental health services for women and girls. 

“I witnessed people returning – women, whole families, many young children – frightened and bringing very little with them,” Mr. Saberton noted.  “Many of the women are pregnant and have small children. They don't know what awaits them. Some of those returning have never actually lived in Afghanistan.”

UNFPA supports a basic health centre at the Torkham border, facilitating the delivery of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and psychosocial support services to the returning refugees, particularly women, girls and children.