Addressing Humanitarian Needs in Afghanistan

Between June and August 2021, nearly 300,000 people in Afghanistan were displaced from their homes. While the situation on the ground has somewhat stabilized, many Afghans continue to flee their homes after the collapse of the government in August, leaving their lands and livelihoods behind as they seek safety. The United Nations estimates that some 18.4 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2021. A total of 35,000 people are displaced in Kabul alone who need healthcare and other humanitarian services.

Those who have been displaced by the crisis face a lack of healthcare and hygiene services, and exposure to COVID-19 and other diseases due to crowding and a lack of basic infection control measures. Additionally, significant needs are expected over the upcoming harsh winter season, especially for internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout Afghanistan. In December, cases of hypothermia, illness and death associated with colder temperatures are likely to increase.

International Medical Corps is among the few organizations that have been responding to the increasing healthcare, mental health and hygiene needs, following the collapse of the Afghanistan Government in August. International Medical Corps is expanding its response efforts to address the emergency health needs of people in Afghanistan. We are currently focusing our response efforts in the provinces of Balkh, Kabul, Kunar, Laghman, Nangahar and Nuristan. As of November 2021, our teams have been able to continue program operations, providing:

• Emergency and basic health services – including the deployment of five mobile health teams in Kabul that have reached more than 3,600 IDPs;
• Mental health and psychosocial support, case management and protection services reaching more than 530 IDPs;
• Water, sanitation and hygiene services – including COVID-19-related infection prevention and control items and guidance;
• Shelters (emergency and permanent) to IDPs; and
• Non-food items to IDPs and host communities – including distributing basic hygiene kits and dignity kits to more than 1,700 IDPs.

International Medical Corps also provided lifesaving pharmaceuticals and medical supplies enabling the provision of emergency lifesaving trauma, outpatient, in-patient and obstetrical services for more than 23,000 Afghans.

International Medical Corps is committed to the security, safeguarding and safety of our staff, the people we serve and the communities in which we work as we continue to provide health and health-related services to those most in need.

Support from GlobalGiving and its community of donors, helps our team on the ground remain flexible to address the most urgent health needs as they arise.