Cash Assistance for Protection and Sheltering of Earthquake-Affected Families in Kunar Province

KEY ACTIVITIES:

• Registration and needs assessment of earthquake-affected households
• Cash support for shelter, warm clothing, medicine, food, and transportation
• Protection support focusing on women, children, and the elderly
• Close coordination with local shuras, authorities, and SUAO field teams
• Ongoing monitoring and follow-up to ensure proper use of cash assistance

MAIN RESULTS:

• 200 families received urgent cash support to secure temporary shelter and cover living expenses
• Families could prioritize their most urgent needs after the disaster
• The risk of homelessness, winter exposure, and health hazards was reduced
• Socioeconomic collapse was prevented for the most vulnerable households
• SUAO’s capacity in cash-based emergency assistance was strengthened through implementation

HUMANITARIAN IMPACT:

The intervention enabled families to maintain dignity, safety, and stability amidst a devastating disaster. Cash assistance provided flexibility and agency, while local coordination ensured aid reached quickly and efficiently in a hard-to-access area.

Cash Assistance for Protection and Sheltering of Earthquake-Affected Families in Kunar Province
The project “Cash Assistance for Protection and Sheltering of Earthquake-Affected Families in Kunar Province” was launched on November 24, 2025, and will be completed on March 23, 2026. The initiative is funded by DERF – Danish Emergency Relief Fund and was developed as a direct response to the severe earthquakes that struck Kunar Province, destroying hundreds of homes within minutes. Many families were suddenly left without shelter, access to food, or financial means to secure their survival through the winter months. In several villages, houses collapsed, bridges were destroyed, and communities were left isolated with no way to meet their most basic needs.

Rebuild Aid therefore initiated a cash-based emergency relief project in close collaboration with our local partner, Saifrood Unity and Aid Organization (SUAO). SUAO conducted initial needs assessments in the hardest-hit areas and identified 200 families in urgent need. Many of these households included women, children, and elderly individuals without resources to secure temporary shelter or purchase essential items such as warm blankets, clothing, medicine, or food. Cash-based assistance was the most effective solution because needs varied significantly from family to family, and cash enabled them to respond quickly and flexibly in a time-critical situation.

The 200 families received direct financial support, which could be used for shelter, warmth, food, medicine, transportation, or essential winter items. For many families, the aid meant the difference between sleeping in collapsed ruins or being able to rent temporary rooms, buy tarps, repair tents, or acquire winter clothing for their children. SUAO carried out the distributions in coordination with local shuras and village leaders, ensuring fairness, transparency, and local ownership. The process was continuously monitored to ensure funds were used in accordance with humanitarian standards.

The impact of the project was visible and tangible within the first weeks after distribution. Families who had no security could stabilize their situation and avoid the worst risks associated with winter cold, illness, and homelessness. For children and elderly, who were particularly vulnerable, the aid provided essential protection against hypothermia and health-related complications. Cash assistance allowed families to prioritize their needs themselves, fostering both dignity and control during a period marked by chaos and loss.

Although the project is still ongoing, preliminary results show that the intervention has reduced humanitarian risk and prevented further displacement. Many families have used the support to establish temporary housing solutions or cover the most urgent expenses, enabling them to gradually move forward and focus on rebuilding their lives. The project also strengthens SUAO’s capacity to implement cash-based emergency assistance and coordination in disaster areas, enhancing local response capabilities in the long term.

The intervention in Kunar Province clearly demonstrates the value of rapid diaspora-led humanitarian response combined with a strong and professional local partnership. In a context where aid is often slow or absent, Rebuild Aid and SUAO enabled a rapid and targeted response, preventing a severe earthquake disaster from escalating into an even deeper humanitarian crisis.