Support for Afghanistan

Thank you for your support of this project. I'm writing to share some updates about ActionAid's work in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is facing one of its toughest humanitarian and food crises in years, with multiple overalpping crises including  ongoing drought and economic collapse to reduced international funding and institutional challenges. Right now, one in five Afghans is experiencing acute hunger, and around 3 million people are severely malnourished. On top of this, the country has seen the return of more than 2.1 million Afghans an unprecedented influx that has placed even greater strain on already fragile systems. Health challenges are worsening, with malaria cases up by more than 21% and rising.

The situation has been compounded by a series of powerful earthquakes that struck eastern Afghanistan between late August and early September. The 6.0-magnitude quake that hit on August 31 devastated communities across Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces. Over 77,000 families, more than half a million people, were affected and nearly 2,000 people were killed and over 3,600 injured. Thousands of homes were destroyed, forcing families to live in tents as winter approaches. Infrastructure losses, livestock deaths, and the destruction of farmland have deepened the crisis, leaving women and vulnerable groups at even higher risk. 

ActionAid has since launched emergency and recovery efforts in Kunar, Laghman, and Nangarhar provinces. Along with local partners, we are providing dry food support, WASH infrastructure, and implementing cash-for-work programs focused on debris removal and reconstruction. Non-food items, like hygiene kits and blankets, are being distributed, alongside multi-purpose cash assistance to help households meet urgent needs.

ActionAid is also investing in long-term resilience by forming 20 community-based disaster preparedness committees and training 2,000 families (about 14,000 people) in disaster risk reduction. In Kunar alone, 1,100 households are being supported with hygiene, dignity, and cash assistance.

To date, ActionAid’s overall response has reached 412,787 people — including 131,189 men, 140,799 women, and 140,799 children — but with temperatures soon to drop below freezing, urgent winterization support is still critically needed.

We appreciate your ongoing partnerships during these challenging times.

Thank you for your support of ActionAid's work in Afghanistan. I'm writing to share a story about a sustainable livelihoods program aimed at empowering Afghan women.

Afghanistan is a predominantly agricultural country, where the livelihoods of most of the population depend on farming and agricultural production. Despite making up half of the population, women remain significantly underrepresented in business and economic activities. To address this disparity and promote women’s economic empowerment, ActionAid has launched targeted initiatives that have facilitated the establishment of small-scale honeybee farming enterprises for nearly 200 women in the Khamard District of Bamiyan Province. Through this initiative, each participant received six beehives, essential beekeeping tools, and comprehensive training, enabling them to establish and manage their own sustainable businesses.

Hasina, a resident of Khamard District, is one of the many women whose life has been transformed through this program. Before joining the beekeeping project, she was a full-time housewife, managing household chores while her family endured severe financial hardship. With her husband working as a taxi driver and serving as the sole breadwinner, their income was barely enough to cover even half of the household’s basic needs. “Our life was very difficult, and our children were deprived of education due to our dire financial situation. My husband struggled to meet even the minimal household expenses,” Hasina recalls.

 Today, Hasina proudly identifies as an entrepreneur. Through her beekeeping business, she has not only contributed to her family's financial stability but also created new opportunities for her children’s education. She is now able to cover school expenses and meet their educational needs. Initially provided with six beehive boxes, Hasina now owns eight and plans to expand further. She is proud of her progress and deeply satisfied with how her life has changed.

 “Compared to before, our lives have improved significantly. We are now financially self-sufficient, and both my husband and I live a much more comfortable life,” she shares. Hasina dreams of expanding her beekeeping farm even further and hopes that one day her honey products will become a well-known brand across Afghanistan.

Hasina’s story is a powerful testament to the transformative impact of women’s economic empowerment that also serves as an inspiration to other women in her community.