The Trump administration claims no one has died due to US aid cuts. The truth in Afghanistan is otherwise. Reports from the ground paint a grim picture of families struggling to survive as vital humanitarian programs vanish. The closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has left millions without access to basic needs like food, healthcare, and education, exacerbating an already dire situation under Taliban rule.
In eastern Afghanistan, hospitals are overwhelmed with cases of malnutrition, with mothers mourning the loss of children who could have been saved with adequate medical support. Over the past four years, the U.S. contributed nearly half of the $8 billion in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, funding programs like food distribution, demining, and education for girls barred from schools. These lifelines have been severed, with clinics closing and food supplies dwindling, leaving vulnerable populations—especially women and children—at risk.
The Taliban’s oppressive policies compound the crisis. Women face severe restrictions, unable to work, travel freely, or access public spaces without male escorts. The International Criminal Court recently sought arrest warrants for Taliban leaders, citing gender-based persecution as a crime against humanity. Yet, the withdrawal of U.S. aid has deepened the suffering, with aid workers warning of rising mortality rates due to hunger and lack of medical care. Posts on X echo this sentiment, highlighting the growing number of infant and maternal deaths linked to shuttered clinics and scarce resources.
In Kabul, families queue in the rain for limited food rations, while rural areas report hospitals running out of basic drugs like antibiotics. The World Health Organization notes that over 200 health facilities have closed since the aid cuts began, pushing Afghanistan’s fragile healthcare system to the brink. With more than half of the country’s 40 million people dependent on aid, the consequences are devastating.
The administration’s decision to redirect aid through the State Department, prioritizing “American interests,” has drawn criticism for ignoring the human cost. Aid groups warn that without urgent intervention, Afghanistan faces a worsening humanitarian disaster, with women and children bearing the heaviest burden.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 23rd, 2025
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