Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world. For over 40 years, the people of Afghanistan have suffered from war, violence and terror.
With the sudden withdrawal of the U.S. from the country in 2021, there was an unprecedented dynamic in the balance of political power that eventually resulted in the Taliban taking over the government. The political unrest combined with ongoing conflicts, one of the worst droughts in the last 30 years and also floods and inundations in the north of the country, COVID-19, earthquakes and the withdrawal of the international community are having a devastating impact on the people of Afghanistan.
The collapse of basic services and the precarious economic situation are exacerbating the already catastrophic humanitarian situation, making almost 60% of the population dependent on humanitarian aid.
The political shifts in 2021 have dramatically exacerbated the plight of many Afghans. The earthquake in western Afghanistan in October 2023, in which over a thousand people lost their lives, left tens of thousands homeless and drove them into hunger. Together with our partner Union Aid, we were able to help more than 1,500 families in need to get through the winter of 2023/2024.
Since August 2024, we have again been working with Union Aid to support 859 families in need as a result of devastating floods in northern Afghanistan with basic food and hygiene products.
In Herat, together with our partner organization Afghanischer Frauenverein, we are helping 48 families to build safe accommodation and sanitary facilities. In Mazar-i-Sharif and the neighboring province of Balkh in northern Afghanistan, we are also working with Union Aid to provide basic health services to provide medical care for malnourished children and pregnant women.
Cyclones, flash floods, mudslides: In Asia, extreme weather events cause more natural disasters than anywhere else in the world. In 2024, again, millions of people were directly affected by the consequences in countries like Afghanistan. Read more to find out about our emergency relief.
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Afghanistan is facing multiple crises, from natural disasters to economic collapse and growing restrictions, especially for women. Despite these challenges, Malteser International and its partners continue to deliver vital healthcare and emergency relief. In 2024, we provided critical support to those affected by floods and earthquakes, offering essential supplies and shelter. Our colleagues report from their project visit how strong community engagement is key to building resilience.
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Nature has been particularly cruel to the people of Afghanistan in 2023 and 2024: The disastrous earthquake in the west of Afghanistan in autumn 2023, with several aftershocks, killed thousands of people and made tens of thousands more homeless. On top of that, in early summer 2024, raging floods in the north of Afghanistan brought even more displacement and grief. Several factors contributed to these floods, including the effects of climate change, unregulated construction, and the destruction of forests and pastures. The floods, driven by heavy rainfall and abnormal precipitation patterns, have caused not only significant loss of life and property but also widespread social and environmental disruption.
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Cologne. After the severe earthquakes last night and on Saturday, Malteser International provides 100,000 Euros for emergency relief for the people in Afghanistan. Within a few days there were several severe earthquakes in the province of Herat, three of them with a magnitude of 6.3. According to local authorities, more than 2,000 people lost their lives during the earthquakes last weekend alone. Information on the numbers of people affected by the latest quake is not yet known.
Read moreAs a sponsoring partner, your regular donation gives real, life-changing help to people in need in our project regions. Your commitment helps us plan ahead and bring about long-lasting impact.
Partner: Union Aid
Cordula Wasser
Email: cordula.wasser(at)malteser-international.org
info@malteser-international.org
Malteser Hilfsdienst e.V.
Reference:
Malteser International
Account number: 1201200012
IBAN:
DE10 3706 0120 1201 2000 12
S.W.I.F.T./BIC: GENODED1PA7
(Pax Bank Cologne)
