Background: UNFPA Assistance Programme
for Afghanistan
The Population Fund is participating
in Afghanistan's reconstruction as part of the integrated
UN assistance mission. Priorities identified together
with the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry
of Women's Affairs are strengthening maternal health
services and girls' education, with an initial focus
on rebuilding health and education infrastructure.
UNFPA is helping the Department
of Public Health coordinate efforts by national organizations
and the international community to improve the reproductive
health situation of Afghan women. In accordance with
the broad political framework established in Bonn, Germany,
and under the guidance of the Office of the Special
Representative to the Secretary-General, UNFPA will
provide support in this critical health and education
area.
Poverty, two decades of war and
the policies of the former Taliban regime have practically
eradicated women's health care in many rural areas.
As a result, Afghanistan's maternal mortality rate is
second only to Sierra Leone's. For every 1,000 live
births, 17 women die of pregnancy-related medical complications.
One quarter of all children die before their fifth birthday.
UNFPA will also help strengthen
the national statistics and data system and support
the establishment of regional and provincial statistics
offices in preparation for a national population and
housing survey, which will create a database for improved
socio-economic planning.
The Fund is also continuing to support
Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries-Iran, Pakistan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan-and displaced
people within the country. It is working with a number
of nongovernmental organizations and international agencies-including
the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR), UNICEF, the International Organization
for Migration (IOM) and the World Health Organization
(WHO)-to provide reproductive health care and supplies,
including safe delivery supplies, along with support
for educational services in refugee camps and other
settings.
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