Disaster Response Afghanistan Project #19507

Winterization Aid for Afghan communities

by Action for Development (AfD)

Project Report | Jun 28, 2023
Help us save lives this winter

By L. Moser | Communications Department

We are in the progress of preparing Winterization aid for the upcoming 2023/2024 winter season

Afghanistan is in a state of severe economic, political, societal, environmental, and security fragility. In addition to the pre-existing problems that had devastated the country, the return of the Taliban and the war in Ukraine has put an additional burden on the population’s freefalling economy and soaring food prices; leaving the country at the highest risk of famine in 25 years. More than six million people face emergency-level food insecurity at the moment, a number that has risen drastically compared to 2022. As a result, it is estimated that four million children and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in Afghanistan will suffer from acute malnutrition this year, requiring urgent humanitarian interventions to meet basic food needs. Especially women and children face challenges and suffer disproportionally.

The problems of the people in Afghanistan become more severe during winter. In addition, 2022 saw the coldest winter in over a decade according to the UNHCR. During the harsh winter months, severe climate changes and negative temperatures as low as -32 Celsius have negative impacts on the agricultural sector and food prices, forcing people to adopt poor coping strategies such as reducing their overall food consumption or trading food. Many reports showed that families were selling their young daughters of different ages into marriage, in order to be able to obtain some means to survive the hunger. Buidling on the findings from the available research and assessment, AfD decided to provide food support to the families suffering from low income and lack of resources, with priority on widows, orphans, families with disabled lead, and families of street-working children.

Given this emergency, and having identified the food crisis as a high priority during the needs assessment, AfD not only distributed coal to combat the cold winter months but also food and quilts as part of its emergency winterization project for the families of street-working children and labors in Kabul, Parwan and Paktiya provinces. In addition, due to the existing health needs and weak health systems and services, AfD set up a mobile health clinic in the Paktiya province.

During the current summer months, AfD is already preparing its Winterization aid for the upcoming winter. We would be very grateful to be able to count on your donations again this year. Your support enables us to support the people of Afghanistan and save lives in the upcoming winter season.

Thank you.

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Mar 2, 2023
This winter donations reached over 2,500 persons!

By Z. Shafiq | Program Director

Female staff checks beneficiary's reference code

This year marked one of the worst and harshest weather conditions in overall Afghanistan.

Number of snow storms in the northern regions were followed with a number of avalanches and a blast of oil tankers in the tunnel of Salang which connects the capital of the country to the Mazare-Sharif (Balkh province – and from there to other northern provinces). These accidents have had dozens killed. The cold weather, high unemployment rate, famine and difficult socio-economic situation of millions of Afghanistan families marked the highest suffering rates.

In Afghanistan, our campaign started at the beginning of winter and till today made a significant progress. Upon discussions with the local key informants about the best modalities of winterization support this year, AfD was advised to focus on food distribution as it would have a life-saving affect, due to high famine rate. Many reports depicted the facts that families were selling their young daughters of different ages into marriage, just to obtain some means to survive the hunger. Building on the findings from the available researches and assessment AfD decided to provide food support to the families suffering from the low income and lack of resources, with priorities on widows, orphans, families with disabled lead.

Part of the funds of winterization support were attributed to rice bags (25kilograms) and cooking oil (5 kilograms). These were distributed to the vulnerable families in Kabul initially and with within next two weeks in Parwan province, covering a total of 190 families in Kabul province and 85 families in Parwan province (275 families in total).

Right after the distribution of food items in Kabul province the cold weather marked (-17/-19) degrees C during the night and (-6/-4) degrees Celsius during the days. This situation was so dire that we could not wait further and immediately started distribution of coal bags as well. As a result 190 coal bags were distributed around Kabul city to the families of street working children, widows and families who earn less than 1$ per day and an additional 85 coal bags were distributed to families with the above criteria in Parwan province.

AfD is thankful to the donors who trust our program and are there to support us in the time of need and urgency. Without the support of the dedicated donations AfD received through different means, we would have not been able to implement these actions. Your donations have helped to save lives of approximately 2,500 persons during this winter season, 30% of these are children below 12 years old.

Beneficiaries gathering to receive the coal bags

The coal bags for distribution

Beneficiaries receiving coal & food supply_Parwan

Beneficiaries of food supply_Kabul

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Nov 1, 2022
As Winter Approaches Support is Needed

By Omaya Munro | Communications Intern

2021 Winter Support

With 700,000 jobs lost since 15 August 2021 particularly 15,000 of which were female teachers that are banned from work, the economic situation in Afghanistan is becoming increasingly dire. As winter looms the implications of mass unemployment will only intensify. Harsh winters with heavy snowfall and low temperature have dangerous consequences on the numerous low-income households, particularly in rural areas.

Many families lack the funds and provisions to support themselves during the winter months. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Report, nearly 19 million Afghans (45%) face high levels of food insecurity.

AfD seeks additional funds to provide assistance in preparation for winter weather. Yearly AfD provides families with blankets, heaters, clothing, and other necessary amenities needed to survive winter. In order to protect the most families during winter as possible, funds are needed to collect the provisions. With only 8 euro donations, AfD will be able to provide winter clothes to one family, as your donations increase so will the amount of support we will be able to provide.

AfD works hard to ensure that there are sustainable help for those in need. AfD seeks to aid the most vulnerable which includes street-working children as they are often orphans with little support. With donations, AfD hopes to conduct multiple rounds of winterization support for street-working children and their families.

As we continue waiting for funding confirmations for winterisation support - AfD will be running a fund raising event in parallel to collect funds for this project. Therefore we urge our community and donors to support us further and help us to support the vulnerable.

AfD would like to thank our donors, staff and devotees, without which our projects and mission would not come to fruition.

Links:

IPC Afghanistan Report

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