The effects of the suspension of all US foreign aid programs are starting to be felt in Pakistan, with more than 60 health facilities set to close and life-saving reproductive health services cut off for 1.7 million people, 1.2 million of whom are Afghan refugees.
Pakistan’s health facilities were administered by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). UNFPA’s Asia and Pacific Regional Director, Pio Smith, expressed deep concern that millions of women and girls are now facing life-threatening risks due to lack of access to UNFPA’s critical services across Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
In response to the US administration’s decision to suspend almost all US foreign assistance programs pending a 90-day review, UNFPA has suspended services funded by US grants that provide a lifeline to women and girls in crises, including in South Asia, Pio Smith said.
“This is not about statistics. This is about real lives. These are literally the most vulnerable people in the world,”
Smith said in a statement on Wednesday.
The regional director estimated that UNFPA will need more than $308 million in 2025 to maintain essential services in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
As of February 7, all USAID direct hires globally will be placed on administrative leave, except for mission-critical functions, core leadership and designated individuals responsible for specifically designated programs, it was announced in Washington.
By February 6, the agency’s leadership will notify essential staff who expect to continue serving.
