Support vulnerable families in rural Afghanistan

Life in her remote village in Afghanistan was once manageable for Madina* and her family. She owned a small piece of land where she grew wheat and vegetables to meet her family’s daily needs. After her husband passed away, farming became the only way she could provide for her children.

This all changed when two years ago, everything she had worked for was destroyed. “Devastating floods destroyed all of my farmland in a single night. Everything I had worked for was lost, leaving me with no means to earn a living.” 

Across Afghanistan, the impacts of the climate crisis are intensifying, and are being increasingly felt through droughts and flash floods. Rising temperatures and dramatic fluctuations in rainfall and drought have led to ongoing infrastructure and agricultural losses in remote areas and villages. For rural families, these devastations have become increasingly common and severely impede their ability to build resilience. 

These flash floods had also damaged her beloved home. Forced to leave her village, Madina's life became even more difficult. “Unable to afford a home, I lived for an extended period in the houses of relatives and neighbors, which was extremely difficult and often humiliating for both me and my children.”

To survive, Madina took on daily labour where possible. “I spent my days searching for work in house-cleaning and washing, earning just enough to meet basic needs.” Despite her strength, she still did not have enough money to afford a new home for her children.

After months of fear and uncertainty, Afghanaid’s specialised team came to Madina’s area to assess the needs of vulnerable families. After speaking to the team about her situation, she enrolled on a project designed to address her shelter needs. 

Through the project, Madina received vital support to rebuild her life. “I was provided 137,000 Afghanis in cash, delivered in two installments, which I used to purchase materials for repairing and building my house.”

Today, Madina finally has a new place to call home. “Receiving shelter support through the project has profoundly transformed my life,” she told us. “My children are now happy and comfortable. This shelter has given me the opportunity to plan for the future and has significantly reduced the stress of daily life.”

Looking ahead Madina feels very hopeful for her future, particularly as the project also supported her to learn skills in maintaining her new home. “The skills I have gained in house maintenance and repair will help me preserve its condition and support my family’s well-being. I hope my children can continue their education and build a brighter future.”

For Madina, and many other women and men displaced by disaster, this programme has restored dignity, stability, and a hope for a safer future. “This shelter has renewed my hope,” she told us proudly. “I am confident that, with dedication and careful planning, I can continue to improve the living conditions for myself and my family every day.”

*Her name has been changed to protect her privacy