CWSA and partners continue to support crisis affected Afghan communities amid mounting...

CWSA and partners continue to support crisis affected Afghan communities amid mounting challenges

A project participant supported under the cash for food component with the support of CWS Japan and CAFOD.

It is estimated that 28.3 million people, or two-thirds of Afghanistan’s population, will need emergency humanitarian assistance this year (2023) to survive as the country enters its third consecutive year of drought and its second year of deep economic recession. The country suffers from decades of conflict, a sudden shift in regime, draconian laws and recurring natural disasters.

The earthquake that struck the South-eastern Region of Afghanistan on 22 June 2022 resulted in a further loss of life and infrastructure in an already fragile country. Thousands of people died, while many more were left injured. Hundreds of houses were completely or partially destroyed and entire villages were displaced. This was followed by heavy rainfall and flash flooding that led to nearly 200 deaths and thousands of damaged houses across the country.

As if there was no end to the misery of Afghan people, another 300 lives were lost to Afghanistan’s harsh winter, a government official reported. Millions continued to live in poorly constructed shelters or under the open sky, without any winter kits, facing extreme temperatures amid minimal humanitarian aid.

To provide immediate relief to conflict and hazard-affected people in Afghanistan, Community World Service Asia (CWSA) and its partners, have been working with local communities and coordinating with all relevant stakeholders to address the immediate needs of families. Cash for food and winterization has been the primary source of support which aims to increase food security and is helping reduce negative coping behaviours and stress among supported communities. The earthquake affected communities are supported with safe shelter and sensitised on using earthquake-resistant technology for the construction of safe housing and reconstruction of buildings. Additionally, emergency healthcare services are provided through health care facilities to the most crisis and disaster affected communities.

CWSA and its partners are also supporting migrant Afghan communities that crossed over to Pakistan after the regime change in search of safety and livelihoods. Some Afghan citizens migrated with proper visas while many fled their homeland without legal documents which limited employment opportunities for them in Pakistan. To ensure these communities receive humanitarian aid, our teams coordinated with key stakeholders and selected most vulnerable families for cash assistance. This emergency response has enabled Afghan refugee families to meet their immediate food, health and survival needs.

Afghan communities supported so far:

Families7,870
Individuals55,960
Men10,683
Women12,213
Children33,064
Persons with Disabilities2,155
Women-headed Households1,369

1500 Afghan community members in Paktika received Awareness on safe shelter and disaster risk reduction

CWSA’s Health assistance reached:

IndividualsMenWomenChildrenPerson with Disabilities (PWDs)
150562,3112,9829,763432