The United Nations’ women’s office in Afghanistan says that women-led organizations are experiencing “devastating” funding reductions, forcing many to lay off staff.
In a post on X, the agency stressed that women-led organizations are central to the support network for Afghan women and girls. It warned that many of these groups are now struggling with severe funding shortages, forcing them to let go of the same women who deliver essential services, and emphasized that losing these frontline leaders would have serious consequences.
Foreign aid to Afghanistan has been shrinking at a time when poverty and unemployment are worsening, driven by natural disasters and the mass return of Afghan migrants.
The World Food Programme has warned that food insecurity and malnutrition in the country are escalating at an alarming pace. According to WFP, funding shortages have forced the agency to reduce the number of people receiving assistance from 10 million to just 2 million.
