A group of over 80 Afghan women who sought refuge in Oman to study are facing imminent deportation back to Afghanistan after their U.S.-funded scholarship was canceled as part of the Trump administration’s foreign aid cuts. The students received an email informing them of the termination of the scholarship program administered by USAID at the Middle East College of Oman. The Afghan women fear persecution and life-threatening risks if they are forced to return to Afghanistan and are appealing for urgent help to continue their studies abroad.
The Women’s Scholarship Endowment, which was launched in 2019 with a $50 million endowment, covered the costs of the program without needing additional annual funding from the U.S. government. However, the program was eliminated in the administration’s effort to scale back USAID programs, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that 83% of programs had been canceled.
According to reports, more than 120 Afghans had their scholarship funding cut off, not just the initially reported 83 women. Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, they have imposed severe restrictions on women, including banning them from education and employment, and limiting their freedom.
Members of Congress and nonprofit groups are working to resolve the situation with the government of Oman to prevent the Afghan students from being sent back to Afghanistan, as it would likely result in grave consequences for them. Rep. Seth Moulton called the cancellation of the scholarship program “shameful” and urged the Trump administration to reverse course to protect the lives of these young women who were pursuing educational opportunities abroad.
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