Help Families in Afghanistan and Worldwide

A Harrowing Reality

Afghanistan tops the IRC's Watchlist of countries most at risk of deteriorating humanitarian crises in 2022. The country could see near universal poverty in 2022 with 97% of Afghans at risk. Afghans are running out of money while prices of food and medicine are skyrocketing.

IRC's Crisis Response

The IRC has delivered aid in Afghanistan for 30 years, reaching 1 million Afghans in 2020 with vital services spanning emergency cash and livelihoods support, through to education as well as safe healing and learning spaces for girls and boys. Immediately after the overthrow of the Afghanistan government, the IRC offices closed for security reasons but was able to reopen its offices in the fall. We have resumed activities on winterization, health, education, and economic recovery and development (such as cash distributions) in 9 provinces, including:

• Supporting over 100 health facilities responding to COVID-19 and other health needs

• Evaluating how to increase support of community-based health programming, clinics, and supplies of emergency medicine

• Working with other organizations on preparations for a looming food crisis in-country: 22.8 million people in Afghanistan will face acute food insecurity which includes 3.2 million children who are at-risk

• Preparing to respond, in partnership with the World Health Organization, to an acute watery diarrhea outbreak in Kabul that has affected an estimated 2,000 people.

• Acting as the leading actor in the protection field specializing in responding to the needs of vulnerable populations

US Resettlement, Asylum & Integration

In the United States, the IRC has been providing a myriad of services, including staffing all U.S. bases charged with welcoming Afghan evacuees. Since August, the IRC has:

• Completed 68,778 registrations and intakes for Afghans arriving in the U.S.

• Transitioned from doing intake and paperwork to conducting independent counseling for guests still on the bases who may want to leave before being assigned an affiliate resettlement office

• Coordinated across our 24 resettlement offices to provide Afghan families (the aim to serve up to 10,000) with housing; access to education; cash assistance for medication, school supplies, or transportation costs; and case management as they acclimate to their new communities

Third Countries

In Mexico, the UK, and other third countries, the IRC has provided housing, health care, social and emotional wellbeing services for children, legal support, and more. Over the next 12 months, the IRC and its partners will provide legal information, counseling and representation to Afghan nationals seeking legal pathways to protection, especially in the U.S., Canada, UK, and EU. The IRC will also be providing education support in the UK, particularly trainings and professional development for educators, assessment tools and curricular resources, and interim programs.

Thank you for supporting the IRC as we deliver aid to Afghan children and families, and other displaced communities around the world.

Links:

• Afghanistan crisis briefing