Afghanistan Update: We’re here to stay

Recent events in Afghanistan have led to almost 400,000 people fleeing their homes in search of safety. Desperate families with nowhere to go are building makeshift shelters, with little access to even the most basic supplies like food and hygiene facilities. The demand for lifesaving essentials is already exceeding current supply.

RESPOND.

This is currently our top priority. We are focused on providing emergency supplies for children and families. We are providing hygiene kits, food supplies, and access to mental health support so children are able to effectively cope through these difficult situations. Throughout the remainder of 2023, we will focus on ensuring our programs continue to reach the most vulnerable. Our work around child protection in emergency will be more important than ever and we hope to continue to support the most vulnerable children and families through child protection interventions in all provinces of the Western Region.

RECOVER.

We support campaigns in local communities to raise awareness about children’s rights issues and violence against young people.

REBUILD.

Our education projects provide access to schooling or vocational training for children and young adults. For children working on the streets, we help them to either re-enroll in a school program or find proper employment if they’re of working age. We also help families by providing them with business training, helping them to secure a more stable source of income.

Some children in Afghanistan are currently being held in prison with their mothers. We provide a shuttle bus to kindergarten for those children to be able to safely access school and provide support to their mothers.

These current projects are currently at risk due to the recent Taliban takeover of the region.

Our partner, War child UK, has been in Afghanistan since 2002.

The first projects were set up in the city of Herat in the western part of Afghanistan. In 2007, these programs were expanded to cover portions of the eastern and central regions of the country. Here’s a snapshot of some projects and our impact.