Resources for Displaced Afghans
More information on how to help during the Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan.
Image via Hey Planet Earth
On The Ground
UNICEF Afghanistan is promoting the rights of children and women throughout Afghanistan and is working to bring basic services to those most in need. In the last two weeks, they have provided 170,000 people affected by drought with safe drinking water and deployed mobile health teams in 14 provinces to continue delivering basic health services for children and women. During the last week of August, UNICEF provided 4,000 severely malnourished children under five with lifesaving therapeutic treatment.
UNHCR’s work in Afghanistan focuses on protecting the most vulnerable and assisting newly displaced Afghans with life-saving shelter, food, water, and core relief items, both within Afghanistan and neighboring countries. Together with our partners, we are committed to staying on the ground and delivering our emergency response as long as we can access those in need.
International Rescue Committee is committed to staying on the ground in Afghanistan as it faces a humanitarian crisis fueled by conflict, climate change, and COVID-19. Through work extending around the globe, the IRC is also supporting the many who have been forced to flee their country. On August 31, the IRC announced the launch of a rapid emergency response to support a group of 175 Afghan evacuees arriving in Mexico City. During their first hours in the country, the IRC provided COVID-19 testing; delivered emergency medical care; handed out welcome kits that included face masks, hand sanitizer, and baby supplies; and facilitated transportation and accommodation. Given the trauma many have experienced, an experienced IRC psychologist was on-site upon arrival to provide individuals with immediate psychological first aid. The IRC also provided mobile phones that can be used to communicate with relatives in Afghanistan and is planning to provide cash cards so evacuees are empowered to meet their needs and can decide what to purchase, ensuring they are able to buy what they need most.
Afghanaid is responding with emergency assistance where needed and supporting families who have lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of the conflict. They have already re-opened a number of their offices to continue our work in supporting remote rural communities. Their ability to continue working is assisted by their strong local roots. For close to forty years, their dedicated personnel have worked with millions of deprived and excluded families in some of the poorest and most remote communities in Afghanistan. They build basic services, improve livelihoods, strengthen the rights of women and children, help communities protect against natural disasters and adapt to climate change, and respond to humanitarian emergencies.
Preemptive Love works to stop the spread of violence in regions of conflict around the world. They respond fast with relief on the frontlines of conflict and are sending resources for food, water, and shelter for those affected to their peacemaker contacts in Kabul.
Fundraising for the Panjshir Valley this fundraising effort is for direct support to the people of Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley and the thousands of refugees from around the country who have taken shelter there.
Emergency offers free treatment to victims of war in Anabah Hospital.
Afghan Scouts provides medical tents, hygiene facilities, food, medicine, and essential items for the displaced in downtown Kabul.
IDRF is providing immediate food and hygiene packages to families and individuals in the Mazar-i-Sharif, Kunduz, and Kabul areas.
Afghanistan Matters helps Afghan families and gets them to safe places.
Around The World
Diaspora Hub has researched the latest news in organized protests in your area, tools on how to reach your local representatives, ways to raise awareness effectively on social media, and most importantly, a list of vetted organizations to donate to.
Women’s Refugee Commission works to improve the lives and protect the rights of women, children, and youth displaced by conflict and crisis. They provide a link to contact your Congressional representative and Senators and urge them to call on President Biden to act now to protect at-risk Afghan women’s rights defenders and provide humanitarian assistance for those left in the country.
Help Afghans Now is a global campaign that helps Afghan people in need of a visa, translator, or legal assistance.
Tahirih Justice Center launched Tahirih’s Afghan Asylum Project to support Afghan citizens who recently arrived in the United States. Their dedicated, toll-free helpline will connect Afghans seeking assistance with information, resources, and local organizations who are providing on-the-ground support. Pashto and Dari interpreters are available.
Nashville International Center for Empowerment is a nonprofit organization that empowers and supports immigrants and refugees in Middle Tennessee and is currently collecting supplies for incoming Afghan Allies.
Airbnb is partnering with resettlement agencies to fund temporary stays for 20,000 Afghan refugees. Hosts can help welcome even more people by hosting free or discounted short-term stays. Plus, 100% of donations on their site will go toward connecting people with temporary housing.
Uber is increasing their previous donations in support of Afghan refugee resettlement programs to $1 million. They also plan to match all in-app donations, up to an additional $1 million. Anyone who wants to support the resettlement of Afghan refugees can now do so via the donate button in the Uber app.
Multicultural Australia provides support and care for the settlement of Afghan refugees into Queensland.
Immigration & Evacuation Information
List of Legal & Immigration Resources by Middle East Matters
Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans Who Were Employed by/on Behalf of the U.S. Government
Afghan Ally Register: Afghan allies who have a US citizen willing to sponsor them, please register for assistance with evacuation by Allied Airlift 21.
Petitions & Action Toolkits
Create Safe Passages from Afghanistan
Afghanistan is not safe. Everyone who wants to leave the country must be able to do so.
Action Toolkit to Support Afghans Under Threat
This toolkit is to direct people towards immediate action to support Afghans under threat (from letter templates to send to politicians, to petitions to sign, to direct local volunteering/protesting).
Media & Accounts to Follow
Staying informed and sharing the current crisis is a way to help.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs provides weekly humanitarian reports.
BBC News recently posted “Afghanistan: Life under Taliban rule one month on”.
Aljazeera is a media resource that shares the latest developments on the ground with Al Jazeera's fact-based news, exclusive video footage, and photos in the Middle East.
Ali M Latifi is an Al Jazeera English Kabul correspondent posting daily updates from the ground in Afghanistan.
Steph is a journalist and photographer for The Guardian and Foreign Policy Magazine living in Afghanistan.
Fahim Abed is a reporter for The New York Times based in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Barialai Khoshhal is a charity worker and documentary photographer based in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Relief Without Borders —
During this devastating humanitarian crisis, we have aid distribution teams on the ground in Afghanistan to provide displaced families with food, water, and shelter. Your donation will support these efforts.
We also have a warehouse of compact essentials, toiletries, towels, small home goods for the refugees relocating to Nashville, Tennessee. If you would like to donate items in Nashville, we will be posting drop-off locations on our website and socials.
As Afghan refugees settle across the U.S. we have established an Amazon wishlist with basic necessities that will be sent to those in need. Donate items directly on Amazon here.