August 2023
Afghan children need urgent assistance
World Vision is declaring a new sustained humanitarian response in Afghanistan
Two years since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul, World Vision is declaring a new sustained humanitarian response in Afghanistan.
A dire combination of drought, severe winter conditions, and economic challenges has left over 29 million people in urgent need of assistance. This includes almost 3.2 million children and 840,000 pregnant and nursing mothers who are suffering with acute or moderate malnutrition.
Vulnerable people’s lives and wellbeing are at serious risk. But you can help change that.
“Many are literally starving: they must have our support to fulfil their most basic needs.” - Asuntha Charles
Your support is needed
In this tumultuous context, World Vision's commitment to alleviating suffering remains unshaken.
World Vision Afghanistan’s National Director, Asuntha Charles, says:
“International support for Afghans in the greatest need has fallen off a cliff, but we are committed to stay and deliver for Afghanistan’s children. Many are literally starving: they must have our support to fulfil their most basic needs and secure their most fundamental right: to life itself.
“While the international focus has been on egregious human rights violations, particularly affecting women and girls, the number of those in need of humanitarian assistance has increased from 24.4 to 29.2 million people. 15 million Afghans will face ‘crisis’ levels of food insecurity this year with 2.7 million in the ‘emergency’ category, the fourth highest figure in the world. This is the result of decades of conflict, the proliferating impacts of climate change, and a highly dysfunctional economy following international disengagement.
“Meanwhile, international support for Afghanistan has plummeted. Nearly $3.8 billion in 2022 has dwindled to $802 million, at the start of August this year.”
For the most vulnerable
This multifaceted crisis has taken a disproportionate toll on the most vulnerable – particularly women and children. Their plight highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive humanitarian response that addresses both immediate needs and long-term recovery.
In the first half of 2023, World Vision reached almost 1.2 million of the most-at-risk Afghans in western Afghanistan. Included in this number are more than 600,000 women and over 550,000 children.
With your help, we can reach even more.
Our work in Afghanistan includes food provision, water and sanitation, protection for vulnerable children and adults, and educational support.
"I would have died”
"If I had not received health services immediately, I would have died," says Kola Khan, 60, who lives in a remote village and suffers with multiple health issues. "When I speak, my blood pressure gets high, and when it is high, I can’t move and fall on the ground. I also have pain in my knees," he says, short of breath.
Kola Khan’s village has no health facilities, so people – especially children – suffer from even minor ailments.
"The reason for many diseases in our village is a lack of clean water and, on the other hand, a lack of a health centre," Kola Khan adds.
Kola Khan received life-saving health services through a World Vision project that provides primary health services in the hardest-to-reach Afghan villages. To date, it has provided health services to more than 3,800 of the most vulnerable people.
Thousands of villages and millions of people like Kola Khan do not have access to health services.
World Vision actively contributes to improving the health and wellbeing of children across Afghanistan. This includes helping children have enough food, reducing life-threatening illnesses among those under five, detecting and treating malnourished children, and helping to ensure mothers are healthy, especially in the most hard-to-reach communities.
"Our children and women receive good health care,” shares Kola Khan. “My three grandchildren were malnourished, but after they took medicine and nutrition packages from here, their health has improved so much that one would not believe they are the same children.”
Staying the course
As Afghanistan navigates through one of its most challenging times, we remain dedicated to alleviating people’s suffering and fostering resilience.
World Vision has been working in Afghanistan for 20 years and we have no plans to stop. But we do need your support in order to help more of those whose lives are at risk.
