Winter in Afghanistan: Burning Plastic to Survive the Bitter Cold
The cold winter months leave Afghanistan’s most vulnerable, such as Mozdalifa and her 2 sons in Botkhak, struggling.
Around the world, millions facing the harsh winter cold without protection.
Our 2024 Winter Appeal aims to provide essential support, offering warmth, nutrition, and resilience to families in Palestine, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syrian Refugees and more.
The Winter Appeal Initiative is our response to the dire conditions vulnerable families and individuals across the globe face during winter.
It addresses the loss of lives, displacement of millions, and damage to critical infrastructure. Our goal is to support the most in need, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and host communities, during the harsh winter.
Winter’s plummeting temperatures and harsh weather devastate vulnerable families. They struggle to survive, unable to afford food or warmth. And with energy and food prices only increasing year on year, more and more of these families have been pushed into poverty.
Winter is also a time that increases people’s risk of contracting serious illnesses. Children are particularly vulnerable, as many unable to study and go to school during winter. Adults also struggle to work due to the harsh cold, leaving them unable to provide for their family.
That’s why the Winter Appeal program provides comprehensive support that ensures the well-being and comfort of those facing severe winter conditions. It provides both winter food Items and non-food items. These include family food packs, supplements, heaters, warm clothes, and materials for reconstruction.
We tailor the efforts to each region’s specific needs during the winter of 2024-25. We prioritise collaboration, transparency, and communication with local communities and partners to address their actual, unique challenges.
The project runs from 1st Oct 2024 to 1st Apr 2025.
The Winter Appeal Initiative will be active across 18 countries during the 2024-25 winter season. These countries have been carefully selected due to the severe impact of extreme weather or poverty, leading to the displacement of millions and increased vulnerability among communities.
Last year, Islamic Relief supported 85,381 affected families, benefiting over 428,807 individuals. Through this appeal, those in need were able safeguard themselves from the cold weather and harsh conditions of winter.
The support provided included distributing thermal clothing, bedding, blankets, fuel for heating, cash vouchers and food packs.
This year, we aim to reach even more people in need with winter support. This includes families in dire need in Gaza and Syrian refugees, where most families do not know where their next meal is coming from.
Islamic Relief Winter Appeal is a lifeline for families. Through this initiative, they are able to get through the winter without worrying about how to feed their children or keep them warm.
When you support a family in need this winter through this appeal, you help provide holistic support.
Our commitment to humanitarian work guided by Islamic charity principles means we focus on a community-centric approach. One that ensues your support aligns with and addresses the actual challenges faced by those we aim to assist.
Join us in bringing warmth, comfort, and hope during the challenging winter season. Your support helps saves lives.
Islamic Relief’s Winter Appeal consists of our distribution activities during winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
Winter brings many hardships to vulnerable communities in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Islamic Relief focuses on helping the most vulnerable in projects aimed at refugees, internally displaced people, and host communities living in inadequate shelter.
The projects will be tailored to each locality and include distribution of much-needed blankets, mattresses, warm clothes, coal, and other heating items to families who need them most.
The initiative operates in 18 countries during the 2024-25 winter season, focusing on areas severely impacted by extreme weather and climate change.
Among these countries include: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bangladesh (Rohingya Refugees), Bosnia, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine (Gaza), Syria (Refugees), and Yemen.
The initiative provides winter food items and non-food items. All items distributed are essential supplies that help vulnerable families cope with the challenges of winter. This includes food packs, warm clothing, heating sources, and more.
We prioritise collaboration and transparency in our efforts. We work closely with local communities, partners, and authorities to ensure that aid is distributed fairly and effectively, with thorough monitoring and evaluation processes in place.
The cold winter months leave Afghanistan’s most vulnerable, such as Mozdalifa and her 2 sons in Botkhak, struggling.
For families in Bangladesh already struggling with poverty, the winter season brings even greater challenges.
Winter lasts a long time in Syria. The situation is challenging for displaced families living in makeshift shelters or tents.