In Afghanistan, consecutive natural disasters have worsened already dire levels of poverty, malnutrition and depleting basic services within the nation.
Between the deadly earthquakes and floods, thousands of people have been affected, with hundreds of casualties, and many more people missing or displaced.
OUR TEAM ARE ON THE GROUND AND ARE STILL ACTIVE
OUR RESPONSE TO DISASTERS IN AFGHANISTAN
Earthquake Response
- In the wake of disaster, Islamic Relief Afghanistan’s Health team, based in Herat, travelled to the earthquake affected areas immediately. Staff from Kabul office was also deployed to support our Herat Field team.
- Our response remains ongoing, providing primary health assistance and continuously assessing the needs of the affected, coordinating with other responders and authorities to deliver relief in the most effective way.
- Currently our teams are providing lifesaving hygiene and water kits, food packs and emergency shelter to those most affected by the earthquake.
- Islamic Relief Afghanistan team is coordinating closely with OCHA and other INGO humanitarian actors to explore joint response opportunities.
Floods Response
- Islamic Relief is on the ground in Baghlan, providing essential humanitarian assistance to families affected by the floods.
- Our response will target families who have lost their homes and assets, as well as other vulnerable affected people such as persons with disabilities and orphaned children
Following the October 2023 earthquakes and refugee crisis, Islamic Relief launched new projects for recovery, ensuring your donations reach those in most need.
These projects include:
- Distributing multi-purpose cash grants to 850 returnee families in Kandahar
- Providing medical care to 7,849 people via mobile medical clinics
- Delivering 76,000 litres of clean water via water trucking and 17 water tanks
- Installing WASH facilities, which includes clean water systems, handwashing points and latrines, as well as distribute water storage, hygiene items, and dignity kits
So far, your donations to Afghanistan have reached over 385,000 people to date.
COMPOUNDING DISASTERS IN AFGHANISTAN
The Situation Right Now
- Economic Collapse
- Rising Poverty
- Looming Famine
- Crumbling health system
- Looming cholera epidemic
- Mass displacement
- Gender injustice
Years of protracted conflict, climate change, the aftermath of Covid-19 and the current political turmoil have pushed Afghanistan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Millions of lives are at stake.
Families across Afghanistan are running out of food. 23 million people – more than half of the population – now face going hungry every day, and nearly 9 million people are just one step away from famine. Half of all children under five years old are expected to suffer from malnutrition this year.
90 per cent of people – including children and people with chronic or life-threatening illnesses – do not have access to decent healthcare.
Escalating conflict and extreme hunger have forced nearly 700,000 people to flee their homes and seek safety elsewhere within Afghanistan, and more families have fled the country completely.
As needs increase, the current uncertainty and insecurity mean that much vital humanitarian work is on hold. In recent years, even before the latest political changes, more than 2.2 million girls were out of school – 60 per cent of the total out-of-school children in the country.
OUR LONG HISTORY IN AFGHANISTAN
Islamic Relief has worked in Afghanistan since 1999 and is one of the few agencies to operate continuously throughout this difficult period.
We have a team of almost 250 staff – nearly half of whom are women – and projects in 35 districts, providing emergency relief and long-term development across the country.
Last year alone our work in Afghanistan supported almost half a million (484,777) women, men and children.
DELIVERING FOOD AND HEALTHCARE
Along with our ongoing emergency response, we are delivering life-saving food aid to thousands of people suffering from the growing hunger crisis.
Islamic Relief teams are distributing parcels containing flour, oil, pulses, rice, sugar and salt to more than 11,000 families in Kabul, Nangarhar, Balkh, Bamiyan and Kapisa provinces.
We are also running health clinics, which provide the only source of healthcare for many people in remote rural areas, and distributing hygiene and water storage kits to help prevent the spread of illnesses.
We also have psychological support staff carrying out home visits to support people’s mental health needs after years of conflict and crisis.
OUR LONG-TERM SUPPORT OF AFGHANISTAN
We aim to work with communities in need to help build a better future for the country.
Where every person lives in safety, has access to food, shelter, healthcare, water and education, and has the skills and opportunities to earn a sustainable living.
We also support Afghan refugees, providing hot meals to new arrivals as well as legal assistance and mental health support.
OUR ONGOING WORK IN AFGHANISTAN
- • Providing seeds and agricultural expertise for farmers, and fodder for livestock
- • Increasing girls’ enrolment in school by training teachers and working with community elders
- • Providing maternal healthcare, as well as antenatal and postnatal care
- • Rehabilitating drug users and helping them to reintegrate into society
- • Supporting women’s literacy, and giving vocational training to empower impoverished youth and women to earn an income
- • Providing counselling and psychosocial support for women and children affected by gender-based violence.
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