The Trump administration has cut the remaining $562 million in aid to Afghanistan—a move the United Nations has warned could be disastrous.
The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) called the decision “a death sentence” for millions already struggling with hunger and extreme poverty.
US officials admit the cut could worsen the humanitarian crisis and increase instability in a country still reeling from years of war and Taliban rule. They also fear that growing desperation could push vulnerable people, especially youth, towards extremist groups like ISIS-Khorasan.
This is part of a wider move by the US to reduce global humanitarian funding. In total, over $1.3 billion has been cut, including $237 million from Syria, $170 million from Somalia, $107 million from Yemen, and $12 million from Gaza—all countries facing severe crises.
Ten sources, including former USAID official Sarah Charles and several current officials, confirmed the aid cuts to Reuters. One insider said, “Every remaining USAID award for Afghanistan was terminated,” including support for the WFP and at least six NGOs. These agencies were helping Afghan women and girls most at risk of starvation.
Five sources also confirmed that US support for Afghan refugees—managed by the State Department—has stopped.
The UN estimates that 23 million people in Afghanistan, more than half of them children, need urgent help. Last year, the WFP reached nearly 12 million people, prioritising women and girls suffering from extreme hunger.
In 2023, the US was the biggest donor to Afghan aid efforts, giving $736 million. This year, that figure has dropped to $206 million. The UN Population Fund has also cancelled a $24 million grant for reproductive health in Afghanistan and a $17 million grant for Syria.
WFP’s Executive Director, Cindy McCain, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Cutting aid will deepen hunger, fuel instability, and make the world far less safe.”
Beyond the humanitarian cost, experts say the cuts could also damage Afghanistan’s already fragile economy. Aid flowing through the UN had helped keep the local currency stable. Without that support, there may be more economic turmoil—and more people forced to migrate in search of survival.
