The cold winter months leave Afghanistan’s most vulnerable struggling. Mozdalifa lives with her 2 sons in Botkhak, a camp for internally displaced people in th nation’s capital, Kabul.

Since losing her husband 6 years ago, the 45-year-old has struggled to make ends meet.

“We don’t have food every day. One day, we have food and we keep the same food for the next day, so we don’t starve,” Mozdalifa says.

The roof of the family’s 1-room mud-brick house is damaged, making it impossible to keep out the winter cold.

But Mozdalifa can barely afford rent, let alone the necessary repairs.

Winters in Afghanistan can be extremely harsh with temperatures dropping to -25°C, sometimes even lower, for months at a time. Last year, temperatures fell as low as -34°C and more than 160 people died. 

To fight the cold, Mozdalifa’s sons collect plastic bottles and other waste, which she burns to heat their room. The fumes are toxic, but it’s their only way of keeping warm. 

A lifeline during the coldest months 

Islamic Relief’s annual Winterisation Program provides blankets, fuel and warm clothing to families in need.  

Last winter, Mozdalifa was one of around 475,500 people across 18 countries to receive this vital support. 

This year, we plan to extend the program to reach families in 19 countries. With your support, Islamic Relief can be a lifeline to even more people in need. 

Please help us protect families from the worst of winter. Donate to our Winter Appeal now.