Afghans Rue Bush's "War on Terror" (Al Jazeera, QATAR)

On the day George Bush, the US president, ends his period in office, millions of Afghans will be battling the bitter cold of winter and possible starvation.

Eight years after Bush launched his "war on terror" following the September 11 attacks, much of the human cost of it remains under-reported. Increased fighting in the country has gradually decreased the ability of the UN, humanitarian agencies and NGOs to deliver basic services to the most vulnerable Afghans.

The UN now categorises 79 of the 364 districts of the country as areas of "extreme risk," and international staff almost never travel by road. The lack of access is likely to increase in the short term, further debilitating the delivery of basic services like food, health and education. Not only is the country facing a worsening security situation, but even the best case scenario, which sees hope in the influx of additional troops next year, predicts increased fighting and greater violence in the short term.

During his recent visit to Afghanistan, his last one scheduled before he leaves office, Bush spoke of the challenges ahead but said the situation had improved since the Taliban were removed from power by US forces in 2001.

"You know, I was thinking ... how much Afghanistan has changed since I have been the president. Sometimes its hard when you're in the midst of a difficult situation, it's hard to get perspective. In 2002 the Taliban were brutally repressing the people of this country. I remember the images of women being stoned, or people being executed in the soccer stadium because of their beliefs. There was a group of killers that were hiding here and training here and plotting here to kill citizens in my country."

However, for many Afghans, 2001 no longer remains a valid comparison, as worsening security, disappointed hopes and increasing economic challenges erode the goodwill of the initial years of the government of Hamid Karzai, a government that Afghans say, was selected by the US.