Alexandria, Va. – In response to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Islamic Relief, a nonprofit humanitarian and advocacy organization, has launched an emergency appeal.
The appeal aims to raise millions of dollars to help thousands of families who have been impacted by the recent devastating conflicts that have besieged the country. The surge in fighting has caused large waves of displacement to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan where the majority of the displaced people live in the open air, making them vulnerable to different types of danger. The number of displaced people is likely to grow in the coming weeks, causing a massive humanitarian crisis.
“We are very concerned by the recent developments in Afghanistan. Hunger has spread significantly, and it is affecting mostly vulnerable groups, including women and children,” said Mohammad Golam Sorwar, head of programs in Afghanistan for Islamic Relief USA. “The internally displaced people live in dire conditions. With figures expected to increase, we are concerned the situation might escalate to a famine. We urge all sides to exercise self-restraint and call for an immediate ceasefire.”
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has been deteriorating over the past year due to the pandemic and political instability. Food insecurity has reached unprecedented levels, with more than 10 million people living in acute food insecurity. The situation is likely to deteriorate in the next coming months without international intervention.
Islamic Relief’s aid efforts will be focused in the capital Kabul and the provinces of Balkh and Nangarhar, where the displaced people are fleeing to seek refuge. In Nangahar alone, more than 28,000 people from Kunar have been displaced and do not have appropriate shelter. The situation is very critical in those regions and requires an immediate response. Islamic Relief will distribute shelter, food parcels, water, and hygiene kits to the affected population.
Islamic Relief has been working in Afghanistan for more than 20 years, providing a lifeline of support for thousands of people in different parts of the county.
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Islamic Relief USA, based in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization. Its mission is to provide relief and development in a dignified manner regardless of gender, race, or religion, and works to empower individuals in their communities and give them a voice in the world. Its programs benefit millions of people each year in more than 40 countries around the world, including in the United States.
Islamic Relief USA meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a national charity monitoring group affiliated with the Better Business Bureau system. Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.