Hillside erosion threatens an orchard in Northeastern Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Why are we in Afghanistan? Concern has worked in Afghanistan since responding to a major earthquake in 1998. Today, Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies. Recent political, social and economic shocks have resulted in a massive deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

A food crisis, born of instability

After decades of war, corruption, and natural disasters, the Afghan people are especially vulnerable to social and economic upheaval.

The global food crisis sparked by the Ukraine war has hit hard an already-failing economy, pushing society to the brink.

Nearly 23 million Afghans are highly food insecure, including 8.7 million at risk of famine. The crisis is exacerbated by the international isolation of Afghanistan since the takeover by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, or the ‘Taliban’) in 2021.

Since then, Afghan woman and girls have experienced increased restrictions on their lives. A barring of women working outside the homes (with few exceptions), or girls studying beyond Grade 6, has resulted in an effective erasure of females from public space.

Latest achievements

Emergency response

In 2022, Concern provided support to over 37,300 Afghans affected by conflict and natural disasters. This included a rapid response to an earthquake outside of our regular operating area, which resulted in 7,500 people receiving tents, blankets, and cash payments.

Gender equality

Food security

Humanitarian response to June 2022 earthquake in Afghanistan

As part of our initial response to the June, 2022 earthquake in Afghanistan, Concern distributed 270 NFI kits, 467 dignity kits, 293 tents and 44 blankets from prepositioned stocks.

Boosah* (4) in Sangin, Helmand, a village directly at the frontline that has seen some of the worst fighting in the country. Families say that all children are traumatised by the war. Photo: Stefanie Glinski/Concern Worldwide

Following the 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan and subsequent aftershocks, UN agencies, INGOs and national organisations have deployed a response in the affected areas.

2020 (Jun) Afghanistan Photo: Stefanie Glinski

Four of Jamal's* (30) children from left, Haliah* (9), Ghani* (5), Fattah* (3) and Basel* (4). The family received assistance from Concern

The images of Afghan houses destroyed by conflict. Photo: Concern Worldwide

How we're helping Afghanistan

We respond rapidly to emergencies, but we also build resilience so that communities are better prepared to withstand the shocks caused by climate change and on-going conflict. A commitment to social inclusion and gender equality is central to our work.