When Shahnaz went into labour, her husband Abdul called a taxi to take them to the only medical facility accessible to them.
She was in a lot of pain, he says.
A 20-minute drive away, the clinic was in Shesh Pol village in Afghanistan's north-eastern Badakhshan province. It was where their two older children were born.
Abdul sat next to Shahnaz, comforting her as they drove over gravel tracks to reach help.
But when we reached the clinic, we saw that it was closed. I didn't know it had shut down, he said, his face crumpling with agony.
Warning: Readers may find some details in this article distressing.
The clinic in Shesh Pol is one of more than 400 medical facilities that closed down in Afghanistan, one of the world's poorest countries, after the Trump administration cut nearly all US aid to the country earlier this year, following the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Despite its dilapidated condition, the Shesh Pol clinic was a critical lifeline for expectant mothers. With a trained midwife assisting 25-30 deliveries every month, it provided essential healthcare services that were vital in this mountainous region notoriously known for high maternal mortality rates.
After not finding any immediate medical assistance, Abdul and Shahnaz decided to return home. But the baby was coming and we had to stop by the side of the road, Abdul recounted, revealing the heartbreaking moment Shahnaz delivered their baby girl in the car. Unfortunately, complications arose, and both Shahnaz and the newborn lost their lives.
Abdul lamented, I wept and screamed. My wife and child could've been saved if the clinic was open. We had a hard life, but we were living it together. I was always happy when I was with her. He voiced the deep sense of loss, stating how the lack of facilities escalated their tragedy.
The narrative of Abdul and Shahnaz is just one of many. The US cuts to aid, primarily to counter potential funding for terrorist factions, have led to dire consequences for the healthcare system in Afghanistan. Reports reflect that the Trump administration’s decision has made maternal care even more precarious.
May the deaths of Shahnaz and thousands of other women shifting in silence echo the sound and story of resilience and vulnerability, driving change in a system that must prioritize lives over policy.