In the seven long months since the U.S. withdrawal, Afghans have endured a mighty struggle. Women have seen their rights disappear. Children have become chattel. Left-behind allies struggle to evade the Taliban, draining their finances to stay fed while awaiting a seemingly mythical evacuation.

Though physically removed from their homeland, Afghans in the United States have also been deeply affected by the struggles of their countrymen and loved ones. This is particularly true for two Afghan women fighting against the chaos left in the aftermath of the international community’s departure.