Reports
Find out more about how DEC charities are responding to the crisis.
Afghanistan
Crisis Appeal
Afghanistan
Crisis Appeal
DEC charities are providing a lifeline after drought and economic collapse left millions hungry. But there is still much to do.
Abdul-Karim* from Daykundi province struggles to earn a living due to his disability, and the drought means he can no longer grow food. Cash support from DEC charity CAFOD is helping his family buy food, fuel and other essentials.
In the first six months of our response
£50 million
raised for the appeal so far, including £10 million from the UK Government
100,000
people supported with food or cash to meet essential needs
2,900
babies, infants and mothers treated for acute malnutrition
5.9 million
people in Afghanistan are one step away from famine
Drought, economic collapse and rising global food prices have pushed millions in Afghanistan to the brink of famine. DEC charities are providing a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of people, but many more still need our support.
Aid is getting through to where it’s needed, making the difference between eating and going hungry for families who can no longer afford to buy food. DEC charities are providing food, cash for essentials and medical care across Afghanistan.
Funds from the appeal have provided cash assistance to over 243,000 people and emergency food to over 130,000 people, in the first six months of our response. Malnourished mothers and children have received life-saving treatment, including through mobile health clinics that reach communities with no access to local healthcare.
We have helped many families survive the difficult winter and will continue to support them in the months ahead, including through water projects to help counter the drought and livelihood opportunities to help people get back on their feet.
A crisis of this magnitude is not quickly resolved, and people in Afghanistan still need our support. We will not turn our backs on them now. Please donate now to help us reach those struggling to survive.
Three-year-old Sameem receives treatment at a Save the Children mobile clinic. Photo: Sacha Myers/Save the Children
Sameem is receiving lifesaving treatment
When three-year-old Sameem developed pneumonia, his mother Yasamin became desperately worried. She had already lost his younger brother to illness the previous year, as she couldn't afford treatment.
Thankfully, Yasamin was able to get treatment for Sameem at a mobile clinic run by DEC charity Save the Children. The family are also receiving nutritious porridge to help them stay healthy.
Millions of children in Afghanistan are acutely malnourished and DEC charities are providing lifesaving aid. Read more about people we've reached, thanks to your donations.
Bibi Gul is sad she is unable to work and support her family. Cash support from Age International has meant she no longer fears being evicted from her home. Photo: Mirwais Amir Akbar
Cash arrived in time for Bibi Gul
Afghanistan is one of the toughest places in the world to be an older person, as many struggle with illness, disability, trauma and displacement from their homes.
DEC charity Age International is providing cash to help older people pay for rent and buy food, essential medicines, and fuel to heat their homes.
Bibi Gul from Herat province, feared eviction from her home, if aid had not arrived in time. Read more on how we are supporting her and other older people.
Latest updates
The latest on the appeal and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
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Cash assistance is a lifeline for older people in Afghanistan
15 August 2022
Hesamuddin paid for food, medical treatment and bills with the cash he received.
If you’re an older person in Afghanistan you would likely already have lived through 40 or so years of conflict and economic crisis when the situation worsened in August 2021. Combined with severe drought and the global cost of living increases, many older people were left with empty pockets and empty plates.
With funds from the DEC appeal, Age International has been providing a series of cash payments directly to over 4,400 families, helping them pay for rent and buy food, essential medicines, and fuel to heat their homes.
The needs of older and disabled people are not always met by traditional aid packages but cash assistance allows them to pay for items like suitable foods, medicines, fuel and rent so they can stay safe and warm in their homes. Cash is often also quicker to reach people in desperate need of support.
Fatima can go to school again, thanks to your donations
15 August 2022
When Fatima's father died of cancer, she and her siblings dropped out of school as the family struggled to pay for food, let alone school books.
DEC charity Islamic Relief provided them with food parcels, thanks to donations to the DEC appeal, and the children are now back in school.
“After receiving aid, we experienced extraordinary changes to our daily life,” says Fatima's mother.
Read more about people we've reached, thanks to your donations.
Earthquake adds to suffering in Afghanistan where over 6.6 million people are on the brink of famine
23 June 2022
A truck organised by ActionAid delivers aid in Paktika province following the earthquake there.
The deadly earthquake in Afghanistan's Paktika province has killed over 1,000 people and injured at least 1,500 more.
Several DEC member charities are responding to help people affected and are drawing on donations to this appeal. DEC charities were already active in Paktika and neighbouring provinces where they are providing life-saving aid in response to the ongoing hunger crisis.
Afghanistan is prone to natural disasters, with around 560 people dying every year due to earthquakes, but this one is particularly severe and has caused large scale damage in a remote and impoverished province.
The food crisis remains severe in Afghanistan, with 6.6 million people one step away from famine and a million children acutely malnourished, putting their lives at risk. The situation remains dire as the conflict in Ukraine causes food prices to spike and another failed harvest looks likely.
The DEC Afghanistan Crisis Appeal has raised £48 million to date and remains open for donations. Please donate today to help save lives.
BBC News Afghanistan quake: Many children killed in disaster, doctors say
23 June 2022
Doctors in Afghanistan have told the BBC that many children may have been killed in Wednesday's earthquake.
More than 1,000 people died in the disaster and heavy rain, threadbare resources and rugged terrain are hampering rescue workers.
Unknown numbers were buried in the rubble of ruined, often mud-built homes by the magnitude 6.1 earthquake.
