More than 80 Afghan women who fled Taliban rule to continue their education in Oman now face imminent deportation after the Trump administration abruptly cut funding for their scholarships.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) had been supporting their studies, but a funding freeze ordered by President Trump in January led to the termination of their scholarships, leaving them with no options but to return to Afghanistan.
The students, who had been pursuing graduate and post-graduate degrees under the Women’s Scholarship Endowment (WSE) programme, were informed last week that their funding had been discontinued, reported BBC.
Emails sent to the students confirmed that their scholarships had been terminated, citing the end of the USAID programme. The emails also referenced travel arrangements back to Afghanistan, sparking fear among the women.
The Trump administration’s decision to freeze foreign aid has led to the closure of multiple humanitarian programmes worldwide, despite facing legal challenges. The affected Afghan students have pleaded with the international community for urgent intervention, seeking protection, financial assistance, and resettlement in a safe country where they can complete their education.
The US State Department has yet to respond to requests for comment, and the USAID website’s media contact page remains offline.
Since returning to power nearly four years ago, the Taliban has imposed strict restrictions on women, including banning them from higher education. These women, most in their 20s, had originally secured scholarships in 2021 before the Taliban takeover. Many continued their studies in Afghan universities until December 2022, when the Taliban officially barred women from higher education. They later fled to Pakistan in search of safety before USAID facilitated their move to Oman.
