Nourish Food Insecure Afghans in Afghanistan

Since the beginning of 2025 nearly 2 million Afghan refugees have been deported from neighboring countries such as Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. The vast number of returnees is causing a humanitarian crisis amidst an already crippled economy which has over half the population in need of assistance. 

Additionally, Afghan refugees with no home to return to are forced to survive in the harsh conditions of Afghanistan's summer months. We see that the need is great and so AAFF is currently surveying families for our next food distribution. We will be able to assist over 120 families with a month worth of staple food supplies. In this distribution we will be able to assist some of the families who have recently been forced to return to Afghanistan but have not been able to find work.

Last month, we were able to provide for some of the basic needs of returnees who do not have a home and were sleeping and sitting in the dirt. Community leaders asked if we could provide mats for 30 families who were forced to return from Iran, so they at least had a barrier from the ground. We were glad to help with this request but also realize their needs are greater than this.

Over half of Afghanistan's population continues to need humanitarian assistance. However, the drastic international funding cuts are causing millions in Afghanistan to not have their basic needs for food met.  

We understand from our constituents that their situations are dire. During our recent distribution we heard stories of people struggling to find work, children dying, families going to bed hungry, and families struggling to eat one small meal a day.

Although families are desperate to provide for themselves, the economic situation makes finding sustainable work nearly impossible for many families. Additionally, many of our constituents are from women-lead households or are disabled or both. Not only are jobs hard to find, but they are nearly impossible for women to obtain since women are banned from working in most sectors. 

Two women, who were recent recipients of 100-kilos of staple food items, shared their stories with us. 

“Having lost my husband years ago, I have been raising my 2 sons alone. We don’t have a permanent house and are currently living in my son-in-law’s house. My 20-year-old son used to work daily to provide food and money, but jobs are scarce, and work is unreliable. We constantly rely on food aid like this to survive. If we receive it, we eat; otherwise, we go hungry. For us, the entire year is like fasting days of Ramadan.”

"Since my husband passed away, I was forced to ask my eldest son who is only 18 to work to earn money for food. I am unable to work myself due to health issues. He earns just 50 af (less than $1) a day working at a shop, but even that opportunity is not always available. My greatest wish for my children is to be able to study but our current circumstances make it seem impossible. That is why I need help from this organization so we can have food so my children can focus on their education.”

The food aid that AAFF provides is even more critical as international support shrinks. Recently, AAFF completed a food distribution that provide 120 families with a month worth of staple food items as well as a blanket. 

We hired women from women-lead households to make the blankets. The women were very grateful for the work and are asking us for more employment opportunities. 

Unfortunately, we do not have ongoing funds to start a women's livelihood project. However, we hope this will be possible in the future so we can empower women to support their families.