Over the course of the past few years, the situation for ordinary people in Afghanistan has been incredibly difficult. 23.7 million people are still in need of humanitarian assistance.

Sulaiman Khalisyar, Project Manager at Afghanaid, spoke with us about the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan, how Afghanaid has worked with some of the country's most vulnerable communities to improve their situation through both emergency and longer-term support, as well as what further work needs to be done.

What is the current situation in Afghanistan? What are the most pressing humanitarian challenges as we enter winter?

"In 2024, the people of Afghanistan struggled with economic hardships, widespread food insecurity, and limited access to basic services. As winter approaches, deep humanitarian need continues, and for communities in remote areas, temperatures can get as low as -25 degrees Celsius, making life even harder.

"Since the takeover by the Taliban in 2021, the Afghan economy has contracted by 27 per cent, international aid has been cut and assets frozen, there has been a decline in job opportunities, and household debt has gotten much higher. This means that around half of the country is living in poverty.

"Over the last three years, these economic challenges have been one of the causes of food insecurity, with the majority of households in Afghanistan experiencing insufficient food consumption. It is estimated that right now,15.3 million people—35% of the population—continue to suffer from crisis or worse (IPC 3+) levels of food insecurity. This is because of the economic crisis and also because of climate change, as climate shocks like droughts and floods are damaging agricultural yields and livestock.

In Herat province, a man rebuilds his home which was flattened during the devastating earthquakes of October 2023

"As well as hunger, one of the most pressing issues as winter comes is a lack of adequate shelter and protection from the cold weather, especially for families who lost their homes in the earthquakes last October, or have been forced to return from Pakistan and Iran and have nowhere to call home. More than 1 million people have returned to Afghanistan since the beginning of this year.

"The lack of infrastructure in Afghanistan makes it hard for families to stay warm over winter - only 40 per cent of the population has access to electricity. Many are still reliant on collecting their own firewood for fuel and heating, and have to sell their livelihood assets to afford blankets, clothes, food and meet their families other needs."

How do harsh winter conditions compound existing vulnerabilities?

"The Taliban's restrictions on women and girls is making them more vulnerable in this humanitarian crisis. Many lack adequate shelter, heating, and food due to poverty and economic downturn. Restricted access to work, education and resources for women makes it hard for them to support their families, so they are all more affected by the life-threatening challenges of extreme cold and food insecurity. 

"Another issue we face in winter across the country is road blockage, because snowfall makes it difficult to access villages in the remote areas we work in. This means these already isolated areas are then completely cut off from the markets and healthcare, and it's even harder for them to meet their basic needs."

What has Afghanaid been doing to help?

"In 2024, my projects focused on bringing water to thousands of families, for drinking and irrigation, so they can stay healthy and improve the productivity of their land.

"Also, we have done lots of work specifically with women to create an environment for them to improve their living conditions, providing them with mental health and social support, as well as vocational training courses and loans for their businesses.

"We've also been working with returnee families and other vulnerable communities to distribute cash assistance and give other humanitarian assistance ahead of the winter months. Cash assistance is good as it gives families the ability to provide for their own and usually quite different needs."

Looking to 2025, what do Afghans need?

"I was recently in Badakhshan province and I found that the main concern the community members always raise is unemployment. For many, they're saying that for six or seven months they have not been able to find work. Previously, many of their family members would migrate to a neighbouring country for employment if their yield was insufficient or they could not find jobs locally. But because of the recent forced returns from Pakistan and Iran, this is no longer an option. A community leader told me that in his village, they had worked incredibly hard for five months to improve their yields but they've only managed to make enough to sustain them for half the year. So for the other six months, they will have to struggle to survive.

"The more we can do in 2025 to work with men and women to create sustainable livelihood opportunities, the more they will be able to lift themselves out of this crisis for good.

"They want the international community to know this. Afghanistan has largely disappeared from the news, and donor funding has reduced. But Afghans simply want help to be able to provide food and income for their families, so they can have the strength to take charge of their futures."

Donate today

Our emergency winterisation programmes work alongside communities to provide cash, food, shelter, blankets, heaters, fuel and winter clothes to families in need. We also deliver resources ready for Spring, such as seeds and fertilisers.

Your support can enable a family to make it through the harsh winter months, and get back to taking charge of their futures.

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