Afghan Women at Risk of Deportation Following USAID Funding Freeze
More than 80 Afghan women studying in Oman are at risk of deportation back to Afghanistan due to a freeze on scholarships funded by USAID under the Trump administration. This aid freeze has led to the cancellation of their educational programs, increasing fears about their safety and loss of rights under Taliban rule. The students call for urgent international support to avoid dire consequences.
Over 80 Afghan women who sought higher education in Oman are facing imminent deportation back to Afghanistan due to the recent freeze on foreign aid programs imposed by the Trump administration. Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), these women’s scholarships were abruptly canceled following a funding freeze initiated by President Trump when he resumed office in January.
One student expressed her distress anonymously to the BBC, stating, “It was heart-breaking. Everyone was shocked and crying. We’ve been told we will be sent back within two weeks.” Since the Taliban regained power almost four years ago, they have imposed stringent restrictions on women’s rights, including the prohibition of university education.
USAID had previously supported the education of thousands of Afghan women abroad and facilitated online learning; however, many of these educational programs are now suspended. Despite facing legal issues, the aid freeze has jeopardized numerous humanitarian projects globally as the government aims to reduce expenditure.
Students currently in Oman report that arrangements for their return to Afghanistan are underway. Emails received by the 82 students indicated their scholarships were “discontinued” due to the termination of the USAID program. One student pleaded, “We need immediate protection, financial assistance, and resettlement opportunities to a safe country where we can continue our education.”
The Afghan women in question were pursuing advanced studies under the Women’s Scholarship Endowment (WSE), which was initiated by USAID in 2018 to promote STEM education among Afghan women—a field now restricted by the Taliban.
Just over a week ago, the students were informed of the termination of their scholarships, prompting another student to reveal her despair, stating, “It’s like everything has been taken away from me. It was the worst moment. I’m under extreme stress right now.”
These women, primarily in their 20s, initially qualified for scholarships in 2021 prior to the Taliban’s seizure of Afghanistan. Many had continued their university education until the Taliban’s ban on women’s higher education in December 2022, leading them to flee to Pakistan and eventually secure visas to Oman via USAID.
One student highlighted the severe consequences they face upon return: “If we are sent back, we will face severe consequences. It would mean losing all our dreams.” Many fear forced marriages and personal danger due to their advocacy and past engagement in education. The Taliban’s response to protests has included aggression against women, with activists facing physical harm and detainment.
Amid claims by the Taliban that they are addressing women’s educational issues in accordance with Sharia law, another student remarked on the dire situation, stating, “Afghanistan is experiencing gender apartheid, with women systematically excluded from basic rights, including education.”
The grants had been designed to sustain their education until 2028, yet the students were advised not to return to Afghanistan for any reason due to safety concerns. Last month, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly attributed the struggles of Afghan women to the United States military’s withdrawal, asserting, “Afghan women are suffering because Joe Biden’s disastrous withdrawal allowed the Taliban to impose mediaeval Sharia law policies.”
As the crisis unfolds, these women are in urgent need of assistance, seeking a lifeline before the situation deteriorates further.
The plight of Afghan women studying abroad has become increasingly precarious following the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid, particularly affecting their scholarships funded by USAID. With imminent threats of deportation to Afghanistan, these women face severe repercussions under Taliban rule, including potential forced marriages and loss of educational opportunities. Urgent international intervention is essential to ensure their safety and ability to continue their studies, highlighting the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Afghanistan amidst an oppressive regime.
Original Source: www.mtv.com.lb
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