Washington, DC., 25 July 2025 —
Foreign aid has been a cornerstone of humanitarian and development assistance in Afghanistan for over two decades. Following decades of war, political instability, and economic collapse, the country now faces a severe shortage of humanitarian resources. This shortage is not merely a logistical or political issue; it is a life-and-death crisis affecting millions of Afghans. The absence of sufficient food, medical supplies, shelter, and international support has intensified suffering and is pushing the nation into deeper destitution. Afghanistan is in the midst of a humanitarian catastrophe.
A Crisis Deepened by Political Shifts
The Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 marked a dramatic shift in Afghanistan’s relationship with the international community. Many aid organizations were forced to scale back operations due to security concerns, sanctions, and restrictions imposed by the new regime, particularly those affecting the rights and freedoms of women and girls.
Afghanistan has seen the evaporation of critical support systems. Resources are drying up. Funding cuts from foreign donors, who previously sustained much of the country’s basic services, have compounded the crisis. Nearly 50% of the foreign aid Afghanistan received came from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which was shuttered in January 2025.
Humanitarian Need
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over 29 million people – more than two-thirds of the population – in need of assistance, according to the United Nations. Food insecurity, lack of access to clean water, lack of healthcare, displacement, the erosion of educational infrastructure, and widespread unemployment persist, adding to the immense human suffering.
According to the World Food Programme, millions face acute food insecurity, with rural populations and children particularly at risk. Malnutrition has surged, with an alarming number of children under the age of five suffering from stunted growth or wasting. The lack of aid means fewer food distributions and limited support for families already struggling with unemployment and rising costs.
Collapsing Healthcare Systems
The healthcare sector, heavily dependent on international aid, is nearing collapse. Hospitals and clinics are understaffed, under-resourced, and unable to meet even the most basic needs. Vaccination rates have plummeted, maternal and child mortality have risen, and outbreaks of preventable diseases – like measles and cholera – are on the rise. Women, restricted from working in many sectors, including healthcare, face additional barriers to accessing medical care.
Displacement and Shelter Insecurity
Ongoing conflict, natural disasters, and economic collapse have displaced millions of Afghans, many of whom live in temporary shelters or open-air settlements without access to clean water, sanitation, or protection from the elements. Winter in Afghanistan can be deadly, and without warm clothing, fuel, or secure housing, displaced families face harsh survival conditions.
Impact on Women and Girls
Among those hardest hit and disproportionately affected by the withdrawal of aid are Afghan women and girls. Under Taliban rule, strict restrictions on female education and employment have intensified, limiting access to public life, mobility, and services. Afghan women have lost the ability to support themselves and their families. Female-headed households, which are often excluded from aid channels, face extreme poverty. Girls’ education has largely been dismantled, with long-term implications for gender equity and national development.
USAID and its partners had played a key role in supporting female entrepreneurs, funding women-led NGOs, and promoting gender equality in education and governance. With its departure, these fragile gains are eroding rapidly.
The Role of the International Community
While some humanitarian aid continues to trickle into Afghanistan, it is a fraction of what is needed. Political considerations, donor fatigue, and concerns about Taliban interference have limited both funding and the delivery of aid. Yet, the Afghan people should not be punished for the actions of their rulers. Humanitarian assistance must be principled, needs-based, and depoliticized.
Governments and international organizations must find ways to deliver aid effectively, even in challenging political environments. This includes supporting local NGOs, ensuring aid workers’ safety, and investing in sustainable, community-led solutions that can operate with minimal external support.
Thinking Out Loud
On Wednesday evening, as I was preparing this piece, I caught a CNN segment by Isobel Yeung, during which the camera witnessed the death of an infant as a result of hunger and meningitis. The segment referenced Secretary Marco Rubio’s assertion that no one had died as a result of the closure of USAID. Here is an example of one such death directly related to the closure of USAID.
This story hits especially close to home for me because I was in Afghanistan during the evacuation, so I’ve witnessed firsthand what the world handed the Afghan people over to when it left the country and abandoned the people.
I was especially struck by Rep. Tim Burchett’s (R, TN) words, delivered nonchalantly, “They have to work it out on their own.” My question to Mr. Burchett is, how do you propose they do that? Given the fact that after 20 years of occupation, we handed the country over to terrorists.
Mr. Burchett argued that “Americans are also struggling with food poverty and difficult childbirths… that America is broke and it has to borrow the money to give aid to other countries… and ‘I only care about Americans in my district.’”
It is important to note that the recently enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which Rep. Burchett voted for, is projected to increase the federal deficit by roughly $3.4 trillion over the next decade. The bill also cuts $1.4 trillion from programs that aid Americans, including the ones in his district, such as Medicaid, SNAP, and those for veterans. That should place a big question mark on exactly which Americans – especially those in his district- he cares about.
Until January 2025, America was a caring country. We rallied around other countries that were hurting. And in our time of need, they rallied around us. If you need evidence of that, go back to the video recorded on 12 September 2001 and the help given to the US in the aftermath of 9/11. Cancelling aid to the world is a mistake.
The lack of humanitarian resources in Afghanistan is a crisis that extends beyond national borders. It is not just an Afghan tragedy but a global failure of empathy and coordination. Without immediate and sustained international attention, millions of lives will continue to be at risk. Afghanistan’s people deserve more than survival – they deserve dignity, opportunity, and the global solidarity needed to rebuild their future.
Photo Credit: Daily life in Afghanistan by Prachatal. Licensed under CC BY NC ND 2.0 – Taken in Kabul, 19 September 2021.
Author’s Note: If you found this article important, please consider sharing it or supporting organizations providing aid to Afghanistan’s civilian communities. Their survival depends on global action.
Lara Kajs is the founder and executive director of The Genocide Report, an NGO nonprofit organization in Washington, DC. She is the author of Assad’s Syria, and Stories from Yemen: A Diary from the Field, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, and independent bookstores worldwide. Distributed by Ingram. Ms. Kajs frequently speaks about atrocity crimes, forced displacement, and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Follow and connect with Lara Kajs on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.