Afghanistan Times
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by Elenoire Laudieri
AT Kabul: U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend aid to Afghanistan while reducing USAID operations is likely to have a dramatic impact on Afghanistan, which depends on outside aid for essential services.
Experts warn that a permanent cut in aid could have serious consequences for the Afghan people. Afghanistan does not have the resources to provide its people with basic public services.
After the end of the military occupation in August 2021, the United States has remained the country’s largest donor.
According to a report by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Washington has allocated or otherwise made available more than $21 billion in assistance to Afghanistan and Afghan refugees since the Taliban took control of the country.
Such aid has helped stabilize the Afghan currency and mitigate the risk of rapid inflation. The suspension of aid now threatens to upset this fragile balance. According to United Nations reports, 26 million people in Afghanistan depend on foreign aid to survive.
Afghanistan also receives assistance from the United Nations, international agencies and Afghan aid organizations, but without the financial contribution of the United States, the living conditions of the Afghan people are likely to deteriorate significantly.
President Trump’s decision is not specifically targeting Afghanistan but all U.S. foreign aid.
However, Afghanistan seems to be on the sidelines of Trump’s foreign policy agenda, while the focus is on conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
On February 4, during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an Afghan journalist asked Trump what his plans were for Afghanistan.
Such aid has helped stabilize the Afghan currency and mitigate the risk of rapid inflation. The suspension of aid now threatens to upset this fragile balance. According to United Nations reports, 26 million people in Afghanistan depend on foreign aid to survive.
Afghanistan also receives assistance from the United Nations, international agencies and Afghan aid organizations, but without the financial contribution of the United States, the living conditions of the Afghan people are likely to deteriorate significantly.
President Trump’s decision is not specifically targeting Afghanistan but all U.S. aid direct foreign aid.
However, Afghanistan seems to be on the sidelines of Trump’s foreign policy agenda, while the focus is on conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
On February 4, during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an Afghan journalist asked Trump what his plans were for Afghanistan.
He answered that he could not understand the journalist’s accent, leaving the audience in doubt whether he really failed to understand the question or was avoiding it altogether.
If USAID funding were suspended for one year, the resulting shock would exceed 1 percent of GNI (Gross Natitonal Income) in 23 economies, with eight countries, including Afghanistan, taking a hard hit of 3 percent or more.
With the suspension of funds and the repatriation of staff by USAID, there is an immediate need for other donors to take the place of the United States as the main provider in the most exposed countries.
If the U.S. were to pull away completely from the world’s poorest countries, the effect on extremely poor people would be devastating. For governments willing to commit a modest share of taxpayer revenues to save lives, prevent malnutrition and maintain stability, now is the time to act. Aid budgets must be redirected to the poorest countries before the cost of inaction becomes irreversible.
