Participant Hassan and his little sister stand outside their home in Afghanistan.
Where we work

Afghanistan

In light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, War Child has scaled up its lifesaving work to protect, educate and provide for more children and families in Afghanistan than ever before. 

On Saturday 24th December, the de-facto authorities in Afghanistan issued a letter directing humanitarian organisations to stop women staff from working. 

War Child UK headquarters made the difficult decision to suspend the critical work we do in Afghanistan.  Following negotiations with the de-facto authorities, WarChild resumed some life-saving programmes and has negotiated access for some female staff members. However, we continue to call on the authorities in Afghanistan to permit humanitarian organisations to work with both men and women so we can continue to support the children who need to access vital services. 

 

Afghanistan is now facing the worst humanitarian crisis it’s ever witnessed. 

Years of conflict, severe drought and the impacts of COVID-19 have left 24.4 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Over half of these are children.  

The fall of the previous Government in August 2021 led to nearly 700,000 people fleeing their homes in search of safety. Desperate families with nowhere to go are building makeshift shelters, with little access to even the most basic supplies. The demand for lifesaving essentials is vastly exceeding what is available. As of December 2021, a total of 4.3 million people were internally displaced, many with no prospect of returning home. 

War Child remains to deliver lifesaving programmes in Afghanistan. We are independently assessing need, and impartially delivering life-saving assistance to those who need us most, when they need us most. 

Scale of the challenge

  • 14 M

    Children in need of humanitarian assistance.

  • 4.2 M

    Children currently out of school.

  • 6 M

    Children and adults at risk of acute severe malnutrition.

Our work in Afghanistan

War Child has been in Afghanistan since 2002. We started our work in the city of Herat, in the Western region, implementing food security and livelihoods projects with internally displaced families. In 2007, we expanded to the eastern and central regions to cover three key areas: protection, education, and livelihoods - as well as broader issues like advocacy and gender discrimination. Currently, all of War Child’s programmes are in the western provinces of Herat, Badghis, Farah and Ghor. 

 

In 2023, War Child’s programmes include: 

  • Rolling out a large-scale emergency response plan to provide life-saving child protection, education, and livelihoods support to the most vulnerable. 

  • Running up to 200 mobile child-friendly spaces and providing mental health support to children impacted by war. 

  • Operating child helplines with mobile child protection teams which serve as a lifeline in times of crisis. 

  • Reintegrating lost children who have been deported and stranded at the border with Iran after leaving in search in of work. Once identified at the border by War Child and partners, these children receive medical and mental health care in a safe space and are reunited with their families across the country. 

  • Providing families with cash relief to support incomes and ensure vulnerable children can attend school.  

 

Jawad smiling in Afghanistan.
At just 15 years old, Ahmad had no choice but to embark on the long and treacherous journey from Afghanistan to Iran in search of work to support his family. Credit: War Child UK.
I like going to school and learning. I want to be a teacher in the future because it will enable me to provide for my family. I will also be able to educate myself and forget the past.
Jawad, Afghanistan.

We never give up on children like Jawad.

War Child's work to protect, educate and provide for children like Ahmad and their families in Afghanistan is more urgent than ever.

Please donate today and help us to be there for those that need us most when they need us most.

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