Safa receives care at WHO-supported Torkham Emergency and Trauma Treatment Care Centre. Photo credit: WHO Afghanistan15 March 2026, Kabul, Afghanistan – In the hard-to-reach district of Momand Dara in Nangarhar Province, where thousands of vulnerable families and returnees from Pakistan are trying to rebuild their lives, access to timely health care can mean the difference between lifelong disability and recovery.
Take Safa, a 12-year-old girl from Daka village. Six months ago Safa fell on a mountain near her home, fracturing her right elbow. Over time, as stiffness and muscle weakness restricted movement in her arm, everyday activities became increasingly difficult.
In communities where specialized rehabilitation services are often out of reach, injuries like Safa’s can lead to prolonged suffering and permanent disability. Fortunately, Safa was able to receive treatment.
At the WHO-supported Torkham Emergency and Trauma Treatment Care Centre, a fully-fledged trauma care centre funded by EU Humanitarian Aid, Safa received surgery, structured physiotherapy and regular follow-up care, allowing her to gradually regain strength and functional movement in her arm.
“I don’t know what words to use to thank Allah and express my gratitude to the staff and supporters of this health facility,” said Safa’s father. “The care my daughter received was beyond my expectations.”
Health workers at the trauma centre say stories like Safa’s inspire them to continue their work despite the challenges. “Seeing patients recover is very encouraging,” said Woleswal Himmat, a physiotherapy technician at the centre. “Continued donor funding and technical support from WHO enable us to deliver quality services, even in remote and hard-to-reach areas.”
Safa’s story highlights how WHO-supported emergency, trauma and rehabilitation services, made possible by EU Humanitarian Aid’s generous support, are helping restore health, dignity and hope to vulnerable populations in hard-to-reach areas along Afghanistan’s border.
“Timely access to quality emergency care is critical to saving lives and reducing complications, particularly in border and hard-to-reach areas,” says WHO Representative to Afghanistan Dr Edwin Ceniza Salvador. “Strengthening emergency response systems, ensuring the availability of trained health workers, essential medicines and trauma services, and improving referral pathways are key to protecting vulnerable populations.”
With sustained funding from donors, WHO is committed to supporting vulnerable communities in Afghanistan, helping to ensure that essential health services reach those who need them most.
For more information, contact:
Najiburrahman Hamid, WHO Communication Officer, Kabul, Afghanistan
