Child with terminal illness evacuated from Afghanistan dies while in US custody

Tragically, a 6-year-old child who suffered from a terminal illness and was evacuated from Afghanistan during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal in 2021 has passed away while under the care of the United States government. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed this devastating news.

According to HHS, the unaccompanied child succumbed to “severe encephalopathy,” a term used to describe various brain-related diseases and disorders. The child, whose identity remains undisclosed, was placed under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in August 2021 and immediately hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Recognizing the child’s need for specialized care, they were later transferred to the HSC Pediatric Center, where they received continuous nursing support. Unfortunately, earlier this month, the child’s condition deteriorated, necessitating their admission to the pediatric intensive care unit at Children’s National Hospital for respiratory assistance due to an unforeseen medical complication. Despite medical interventions aligned with the wishes of the parents and the hospital’s healthcare provider team, the child’s life could not be saved.

During this difficult time, our thoughts and condolences go out to the grieving family. ORR is committed to offering support, comfort, and assistance with necessary arrangements. This marks the third tragic death of a child in HHS custody this year, with previous cases involving a 17-year-old migrant from Honduras in a Florida shelter for unaccompanied minors and a 4-year-old Honduran migrant in a delicate medical condition in Michigan.