WHO Airlifts 78 Tonnes Of Medical Supplies To Afghanistan From Dubai

(MENAFN- Khaama Press) The World Health Organization (WHO) says a 78-tonne air shipment of life-saving medical supplies has arrived in Afghanistan from Dubai, providing urgently needed support for hundreds of thousands of people as the country's health system remains under severe pressure. WHO said the cargo includes measles treatment kits, pneumonia supplies, nutrition support for malnourished children and surgical equipment.

According to WHO, the supplies are expected to help cover the urgent health needs of more than 419,000 people and support over 13,000 life-saving surgeries across the country. The agency thanked the United Arab Emirates for helping facilitate the delivery at a time when humanitarian logistics across the wider region have become increasingly difficult.

The delivery comes as WHO and other aid agencies warn that Afghanistan continues to face a combination of humanitarian, economic and public health crises, including disease outbreaks, weak access to essential care and climate-related shocks. WHO says its emergency response in Afghanistan remains focused on preserving health services, ensuring rapid outbreak response and delivering critical medicines to vulnerable communities.

WHO had earlier warned that the war in the Middle East and resulting airspace restrictions had disrupted the movement of emergency health cargo across the region, delaying more than 50 humanitarian shipments intended for 1.6 million people in 25 countries, including Afghanistan. The latest airlift suggests some priority deliveries are still being pushed through despite those constraints.

Afghanistan's health sector remains heavily dependent on international assistance, with millions of people relying on externally supported clinics, emergency services and disease-response programs for basic care. WHO has repeatedly said sustained supply lines are critical to keeping those services operational.

Recent years have also seen repeated pressure on the health system from earthquakes, floods, displacement, malnutrition and infectious disease outbreaks, leaving hospitals and rural facilities with little margin to absorb further disruption.

The new shipment offers temporary relief for a strained health network, but aid agencies say continued access, funding and regional stability will remain essential to prevent deeper health emergencies in Afghanistan.

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