With more than half of the Afghan population living in poverty and unable to afford basic necessities, vulnerability remains high. Millions of Afghans lack access to healthcare, compromising their ability to survive and thrive. The country also faces critical shortages in ambulance care, further contributing to a loss of life – and risks many more – as patients are often not transported to hospitals for timely medical attention.

To help, UNOPS has procured and delivered 13 medically equipped ambulances to hospitals in Kabul and Kandahar. The project, funded by the government of Japan, also facilitated training on ambulance operations for 50 medical personnel and 40 ambulance drivers.

The new ambulances will enable the transportation of over 14,000 patients each year.

“As Afghanistan continues to grapple with one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally, we are here to support our partners in their commitment to the people of this country. Projects like these bring us together to reach more people with key services in a complex environment,” said Nicholas George, Director and Representative of UNOPS in Afghanistan.