The withdrawal of U.S. aid in Afghanistan disrupted the operations of at least 215 gender-based violence, or GBV, service points in the country.

Date: 5/25

Region: Europe & Central Asia

Country: Afghanistan

Topic: Gender Equality & Inclusion, Health

Policy Lens: Moral Leadership

Entry Type: Operational Impact

Additional Context: May 2025 figures from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs describe this impact as a direct consequence of U.S. funding shortfalls. A subsequent August 2025 update reported 218 closures, though it refers to a broader funding shortfall rather than U.S. cuts specifically.

Devex Researcher Note: According to Refugees International, these disruptions affected about one million women survivors who had relied on these programs for safety, psychosocial support, and referrals.

Source: OCHA