Afghanistan Resources: Ongoing Relief Efforts
Message from the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute
On behalf of the team at the Mittal Institute, our hearts are with the people of Afghanistan, who are reeling in the wake of new unrest. Over the past few decades, the people of Afghanistan have experienced large-scale and ongoing violence and conflict, with recent events only adding to this turmoil and resulting suffering. Our thoughts are with the Afghan people as they look to chart a new path forward and with their friends, family members and partners in the international community.
During this crisis, the Mittal Institute would like to bring attention to how our community can stay informed on what’s developing in Afghanistan, and ways that they can help. This list is not exhaustive, and we encourage you to share more resources for possible inclusion on our website; please feel free to email mittalsai@fas.harvard.edu with suggestions. The Mittal Institute is planning for additional programming on related topics in coming weeks, and we hope that you can join us.
This page was last updated in August 2021.
News and Information Sources
New York Times: Live updates from in country
Washington Post: Live updates
CNN: Live updates
AP News: Articles on Afghanistan
Al Jazeera: Artices and updates
Fundraising Campaigns
Aid organizations are working tirelessly to support the humanitarian mission in Afghanistan. During this time of uncertainty, we’ve seen barriers to access for funds in country; as such, we are prioritizing organizations that are internationally-based and can provide effective support on the ground.
International Rescue Committee – The IRC has worked in Afghanistan through three decades of crisis, providing millions of people with shelter, education, clean water, health support and other aid, and we will stay as long as we are needed. Donate now to help us support children and families in Afghanistan and in crisis zones worldwide. Your gift allows us to deliver comprehensive help to people affected by humanitarian crises and will be used where and when most needed.
Women for Women International – Our global community invests in women survivors of war and conflict, providing them with social and economic skills to transform their own lives. The urgent need for support in Afghanistan is critical right now. It is a moment of grim uncertainty for Afghan women. Violence is rising and women are caught in the crossfire. Make an emergency gift today to provide a lifeline for women in Afghanistan during their time of need.
HIAS – HIAS works around the world to protect refugees who have been forced to flee their homelands because of who they are, including ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. Your gift helps provide food, housing assistance, job training, gender-based violence counseling, and other critical needs for arriving Afghan citizens into the United States.
Islamic Relief USA – Islamic Relief USA has made an initial commitment of $1 million to help Afghan families suffering under the current crisis. Our staff on the ground has identified Kabul, Balkh, Herat and Nangarhar provinces as areas for immediate support, and are working to distribute food, water, hygiene kits, non-food items, and family-sized tents. Your donations today are how we can support IR Afghanistan to get these items out to families who are in desperate need right now.
Afghanaid – Afghanaid is a British humanitarian and development organisation. For close to forty years, our dedicated personnel have worked with millions of deprived and excluded families in some of the poorest and most remote communities in Afghanistan. We are responding to the current crisis with emergency assistance where needed and supporting families who have lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of the conflict. We have already re-opened a number of our offices to continue our work in supporting remote rural communities.
International Medical Corps – International Medical Corps has been in Afghanistan since our founding in 1984, providing emergency and primary healthcare, along with training to build skills and resilience. With staff throughout the country committed to providing lifesaving aid, we will continue our work even as uncertainty for the future grips the nation. Your tax-deductible gift will help train healthcare workers in emergency preparedness and provide primary healthcare services and training to marginalized and underserved communities across Afghanistan, helping them to stay healthy in the most difficult environments.
Vital Voices Global Partnership – Vital Voices Global Partnership invests in women leaders who are solving the world’s greatest challenges. As the crisis in Afghanistan escalates, women and girls are increasingly under attack. We are ramping up our efforts to support Afghan women and we need your help. We have expanded our Voices Against Violence Initiative and Urgent Assistance Fund to get immediate support out to women activists in Afghanistan on the frontlines of change and to ensure that survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices have better access to services, protection and the justice they deserve.
Human Rights Watch – Human Rights Watch investigates and reports on abuses happening in all corners of the world. We are roughly 450 people of 70-plus nationalities who are country experts, lawyers, journalists, and others who work to protect the most at risk. Your gift today will help Human Rights Watch advocate that all governments act quickly to evacuate and protect at-risk Afghans. And, with your support today, we can fight to ensure that those who commit crimes face justice tomorrow.
International Committee of the Red Cross – The ICRC has been present in Afghanistan since 1987. ICRC staff have worked to protect and assist those in need in Taliban-controlled areas for years. We also maintain open channels with local and high-level leaders. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with the Afghan Red Crescent Society to help those whose lives have been scarred by war. With your help, we can continue to provide much-needed health and other humanitarian assistance. Please donate to the ICRC today.
Other Ways to Help
Airbnb – In an emergency, you can offer people in crisis a place to stay. Your space can provide comfort to a family evacuating because of a wildfire, a refugee making a life-saving journey, or a relief worker deploying in the wake of a hurricane.
Washingtonian Magazine Refugee Help– If you live in the D.C. area, Washingtonian Magazine has a list of ways to help refugees including donating rides from the airport, offering apartments for rent, buying or donating furniture.
Donate airline miles to refugees – If you want to help provide aid to the Afghan people but don’t currently have the funds to do so, consider donating airline miles to the organization Miles4Migrants, which donates miles to individuals who have been approved to travel but cannot afford airfare.
Donate basic necessities for Afghan refugees – Refugees are currently taking shelter in the few remaining parts of Afghanistan deemed “safe,” and WorldHelp is collecting donations to get them food, water, and other basic necessities.
Support Afghan Journalists – Hundreds of Afghan media workers are under threat: If we act now, we can save the lives of Afghan journalists. International Media Support and AJSC (Afghan Journalists Safety Committee) have worked to keep media workers safe for many years. But the situation right now is extremely serious. Therefore, IMS and AJSC are calling for help.
This list is not comprehensive and should be used as a general guide.