Assisting the IDPs to Prevent a Human Catastrophe

KEY ACTIVITIES:

• Rapid needs assessments conducted by SUAO’s field teams
• Distribution of emergency rations, blankets, kitchen equipment, and hygiene items
• Winter support for particularly vulnerable households
• Coordination with local councils and authorities in Ghor

MAIN RESULTS:

• 300 families received urgent life-saving support during the winter period
• The risk of illness, hunger, and hypothermia was significantly reduced
• Women, children, and the elderly were protected during a critical transition period
• SUAO’s capacity in emergency response was strengthened
• A humanitarian catastrophe was averted in the hardest-hit IDP areas

HUMANITARIAN IMPACT:

The intervention ensured survival, stability, and dignity for families in deep crisis and demonstrated how diaspora-led emergency aid can deliver rapid and meaningful results through strong local partnerships.

DERF-funded emergency response, 25 October 2021 – 24 April 2022

Implemented in collaboration with Saifrood Unity and Aid Organization (SUAO)

The project “Assisting the IDPs to Prevent a Human Catastrophe” was implemented in Ghor province during one of the most critical periods in Afghanistan’s recent history. After the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, large parts of the public infrastructure collapsed, and thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. Many internally displaced families arrived in Ghor with absolutely nothing – no food, no warmth, no medicine, and no place to sleep. The cold in the high-altitude areas hit quickly, and without access to aid, the risk of illness, hunger, and, in the worst cases, death was extremely high.

To prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, DERF – Danish Emergency Relief Fund – allocated funds to Rebuild Aid for a rapid and targeted emergency response to address the most urgent needs of 300 internally displaced families. The project was carried out from 25 October 2021 to 24 April 2022 and implemented in close collaboration with our local partner, Saifrood Unity and Aid Organization (SUAO). SUAO was responsible for fieldwork, needs assessments, coordination with local leaders and authorities, and the distribution of aid to the most vulnerable groups.

Needs assessments showed that families in Ghor lacked basic necessities. Many had no access to food, blankets, winter protection, kitchen equipment, hygiene items, or clean drinking water. Several families lived in temporary tent structures that could neither keep out the cold nor provide basic protection. Women, children, and the elderly were particularly vulnerable during this period. The project therefore provided each family with an emergency relief package covering the most essential needs, enabling them to survive the winter and stabilize their situation.

The intervention had a clear and immediate effect. Families received food, warmth, and the necessary supplies to get through the harshest months. Children were protected from the cold, and the risk of illness and malnutrition was significantly reduced. For many families, this was the only form of assistance they received during this period, and the project prevented their situation from becoming life-threatening. The mental stress and desperation among families were alleviated, allowing them to regain a level of stability to slowly rebuild their daily lives.

Although the project was of limited duration, it also created long-term impacts. Many families avoided having to migrate further under dangerous conditions, and they learned about available support opportunities in the local area through the project’s activities. At the same time, collaboration with SUAO strengthened local capacity to respond to future emergencies, and the experience laid the foundation for several subsequent humanitarian interventions funded by DERF. The project clearly demonstrated the critical role of diaspora engagement, local partnerships, and rapid humanitarian response in a crisis situation.

The emergency response in Ghor now stands as a concrete example of how a relatively small and efficient intervention can prevent severe human consequences in a vulnerable area. Through joint efforts, Rebuild Aid and SUAO ensured that aid reached those in need and that the most vulnerable families received the support necessary to survive one of the most challenging winters in recent times.