Afghanistan is experiencing the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. 95% of the population is endangered by food insecurity or malnutrition to an unprecedented degree (UN OCHA). That is because of the economic collapse, the deterioration of the finance and health sector, extreme droughts and international sanctions after the Taliban took power.

Our solidarity is needed now! In 2022, we are organising another humanitarian relief for families in Afghanistan during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting.

Your donation enables us to assemble food packages and distribute them to families in need who otherwise couldn’t cover their most basic needs. Our goal this year is to raise 35.745€ to support the nutrition of 300 families for 2-3 months.* Can we reach this goal together?

Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis

Even before the Taliban took power, Afghanistan was one of the financially weakest countries in the world. For the past 8 months now, the international community has frozen all funds for long-term international development which made up almost 75% of the national budget. This sudden retreat after years of economic dependence led to disastrous consequences: the Afghan economy has essentially collapsed.

Unemployment and Hunger

The economic standstill has caused a multitude of social problems as well. Unemployment has spiked, civil servants are no longer being paid. The UN estimates that 70% of teachers haven’t received a salary since August (December 2021). The health system was hit just as hard: Due to a lack of resources and staff, 90% of clinics and hospitals could be forced to close in the next months (IRC – International Rescue Committee).

On top of this, access to cash has mostly been blocked while at the same time prices for goods have been rising by 20-30%. A downward spiral that has pulled nearly the entire population into poverty, more than 50% in urgent need of humanitarian action. Children are one of the most vulnerable groups: an estimated 13.700 newborns have passed away since the beginning of the year from malnutrition and related diseases. That is every 1 in 10 births.

The crisis has gotten out of control and demands decisions on life and death: heating or food during the cold winter months – provided that people have the money to do so. The raging famine forces civilians to desperate measures. Many are selling their organs or even their own children to keep other family members alive.

Flight and Climate

Another consequence of the humanitarian catastrophe is forced migration: in addition to an existing 3.5 million internally displaced persons in Afghanistan, another 700.000 people had to flee their homes in 2021 (IFRC – International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies).  This means that one in ten of the country’s inhabitants is now a refugee. Consequently, with a population of 40 million, around 4 million Afghans are affected.

The cold winter and multiple severe droughts over the past years, have made agriculture in provinces like Badghis impossible, therefore forcing people to leave (DW). However, conditions in the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) Camps are hardly any better. Many people must seek shelter in tents which don’t provide sufficient protection and there is often no access to clean water or food.

Sustainable improvement in Afghanistan requires political action. However, the acute humanitarian consequences – disease, flight, families separating, famine and death – need to be alleviated urgently while it is still possible. We all need to take on responsibility, to support the Afghan population and to show solidarity.

Emergency Relief in Mazar-e Sharif

For Ramadan this year, we are organising a humanitarian relief for Afghan families. Our local partner organisation OASE (Organization of Afghan Support) will distribute food packages to families in need. Our goal this year is to raise 35.745€ to support the nutrition of 300 families for 2-3 months. The packages include:

• 50 kg flour
• 24 kg rice
• 2 kg tomatoes
• 7 kg sugar
• 5 kg peas
• 1 kg beans
• 3,5 l oil
• 1,5 kg green tea

Any additional donations will go towards our running projects in Afghanistan. We will keep you posted about more details on our Instagram and Facebook.

Donating for Ramadan

Many Muslims fast during the 9th month of the Islamic calendar – Ramadan. From dawn to sunset, they renounce food and drink. In the evening, during „Iftar“, friends and family come together to break the fast. Ramadan ends with community celebrations of up to three days.

We want to ease this spiritually and physically challenging time for families in Afghanistan by providing them with food. Are you with us?