Millions of Afghans lose access to healthcare services as USAID cuts shut clinics

Clinic closures mean the only healthcare for most Afghans is in cities; the need for a male ‘guardian’ makes it even harder for widows such as Bibi Gul, pictured, to access it. Photograph: Getty

More than 200 health facilities run by the World Health Organization in Afghanistan, providing medical care for 1.84 million people, have closed or ceased operating after the US aid cuts announced by the Trump administration shut off life-saving medical care, including vaccinations, maternal and child health services.

On his first day in office in January, President Donald Trump announced an immediate freeze on all US foreign assistance, including more than $40bn (£32bn) for international projects coming from USAID, the United States Agency for International Development. It was later confirmed that more than 80% of USAID programmes had been cancelled.