DEVELOPING: US Aid Cuts Spark Deadly Surge in Afghan Maternal Deaths

BREAKING: US Aid Cuts Linked to Deadly Surge in Afghan Maternal Deaths A devastating surge in maternal deaths has been reported in Afghanistan following the sudden cut of nearly all US aid to the country, with at least one woman dying in childbirth after her local clinic was forced to close. In a heart-wrenching account, Abdul, a father from Badakhshan province, revealed that his wife Shahnaz died giving birth after their nearest medical facility, a clinic in Shesh Pol village, shut down due to the US aid cuts. The couple had been driven 20 minutes to reach the clinic, only to find it closed. The clinic is one of over 400 medical facilities to have closed across Afghanistan since the Trump administration drastically reduced US aid earlier this year. The move has left thousands without access to basic healthcare services. According to sources, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was dismantled in a sudden and abrupt move, leading to a significant reduction in aid to Afghanistan. The country's already fragile healthcare system is now on the brink of collapse. The current situation remains dire, with many families unable to access medical care due to the closure of clinics. Efforts are underway to provide emergency assistance, but the full extent of the crisis is yet to be assessed. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Bbc.*