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 continues to face one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world. Prolonged poverty, recurring environmental disasters and insecurity pose significant challenges to Afghans, with lasting political, economic and social implications. Concern is responding with emergency, resilience and long-term development programming.

*We are currently responding to the threat of COVID-19 in Afghanistan. Find out more about our response here.

Almost two thirds of Afghans live in areas directly affected by conflict

Despite development advances in recent years, Afghanistan remains an extremely volatile and fragile country following nearly four decades of instability. Violence continues to undermine the country’s development, with almost two thirds of the Afghan population living in areas directly affected by conflict, prompting ongoing internal displacement that erodes people’s resources and coping mechanisms over time.

These challenges are compounded by the limited capacity of communities, government and humanitarian actors to withstand the impact of repeated natural disasters including floods, landslides, earthquakes and drought.

Emergency response

In September 2019, Concern became the UN’s chosen partner for the emergency response to displacement in Northeast Afghanistan. We became camp lead at Dasth-e-Robat camp, where over 3,000 families were seeking refuge from conflict.

Education

Building resilience

Setting measuring stakes on a hillside as part of a Concern watershed management project in Afghanistan. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide

Zimarai* with his wife and grandchild at their home in Northeastern Afghanistan. They have been assisted by the local Self Help Group, set up with support from Concern. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide

Zimarai* with his wife and grandchild have been assisted by the local Self Help Group, supported by Concern. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide

Children read some material provide by Concern at a Global Handwashing Day Ceremony. The event covered important topics including safe drinking water, open defecation, and personal hygiene. Photo: Concern Worldwide

Children read some material provided by Concern at a Global Hand-washing Day Ceremony. Photo: Jaclyn Dolski / Concern Worldwide.

The Concern team distributes NFI kits for displaced persons in October 2019. Photo: Haroon Muradi / Concern Worldwide.

The tree nursery in Faizabad, Afghanistan was first established by Concern in 2001 and provided income and trees for hundreds of families over the years. Today it is in the hands of the local authorities and serves as a recreational forest for families and university students. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide

The tree nursery in Faizabad, Afghanistan was established by Concern in 2002. Photo: Kieran McConville /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.

Latest from Afghanistan

Beautiful but deadly. The mountains and valleys of Yawan district. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide.

Story

7 October 2019

When mountains fall: how Afghans are dealing with climate change

Vast areas of northern Afghanistan are on the move — literally. As the glaciers of the Hindu Kush begin to disappear and the mountain snows melt faster and earlier, the people below are facing a major crisis.

Villagers from Kozur in the north east of Afghanistan.

News11 July 2017

Improving livelihoods with a community forest in Afghanistan

A view from the remote village of Shah Dara in north-east Afghanistan.

News30 March 2017

Breaking the cycle of debt in Afghanistan

Shah Dara village market, one of the communities that the Concern Cha'Ab district team is working with. Photograph: Concern Worldwide.

News

3 March 2017

Building resilience in Afghanistan

A Concern team member in Afghanistan documents his journey from Taloqan to Cha’Ab in north-east Afghanistan, where Concern is implementing programmes with remote and vulnerable communities.