Emergency Response to Flood-Affected Households in Badghis Province, Afghanistan

The project “Emergency Response to Flood-Affected Households in Badghis Province, Afghanistan” was implemented by Saifrood Unity and Aid Organization (SUAO) in partnership with Rebuild Aid Forening, with financial support from the Danish Emergency Relief Fund (DERF). The intervention responded to the devastating floods that struck Badghis Province following exceptionally heavy rainfall, causing widespread destruction of homes, farmland, crops, livestock, and other essential livelihood assets.

Many affected families lost not only their homes but also their primary sources of income and food production. Agricultural fields were submerged, livestock perished, irrigation systems were damaged, and communities faced increasing food insecurity and economic hardship. For many households, rebuilding without external assistance was impossible.

Following comprehensive field assessments and detailed vulnerability analyses, 150 highly vulnerable households were identified to receive emergency cash assistance. Beneficiaries were selected through a transparent process based on humanitarian vulnerability criteria, ensuring that assistance reached those most severely affected by the floods.

The project covered communities in Chah Kabli, Miranzai, Zad Ali Sofla, Zad Ali Ulya, Andaran, Kahshaniha, and Mohammadzai villages in Muqur District, as well as Tapa Eidgah and Jar Bozkashi in Qala-e-Naw City. These communities were among the areas hardest hit by the floods and faced significant humanitarian and economic challenges in the aftermath of the disaster.

Each household received a cash grant equivalent to approximately three months of essential living expenses. Rather than receiving predefined relief items, families were able to decide how best to use the assistance according to their individual priorities. Some households purchased food and clean water, while others prioritised temporary shelter, healthcare, clothing, transportation, or replacing essential household items. This flexible cash-based approach recognised that every family’s recovery needs were different and helped restore dignity and decision-making during a period of crisis.

The implementation process placed strong emphasis on transparency, accountability, and community participation. Cash distributions were organised in close coordination with the Acting Head of the Department of Economy of Badghis Province, the Director of Village Affairs of Muqur District, community elders, local councils, and other local stakeholders. Their participation strengthened public confidence in the process and helped ensure fair beneficiary selection and accountable implementation.

Throughout the project, SUAO’s humanitarian teams maintained close communication with communities while carrying out beneficiary verification, registration, monitoring, and post-distribution follow-up. These mechanisms ensured that assistance reached the intended recipients efficiently while providing opportunities for community feedback and continuous oversight.

Beyond meeting immediate humanitarian needs, the project also strengthened SUAO’s institutional capacity in emergency cash programming, humanitarian coordination, beneficiary registration, accountability mechanisms, and disaster response. The experience gained through the implementation has further enhanced the organisation’s ability to respond rapidly and effectively to future emergencies affecting vulnerable communities across Afghanistan.

The project demonstrated the effectiveness of cash assistance as one of the most dignified and efficient humanitarian response modalities. By empowering affected families to make their own decisions, the intervention respected individual priorities while supporting faster recovery and strengthening community resilience after a devastating natural disaster.

Through the financial support of DERF, the grant management of Rebuild Aid Forening, and the local implementation expertise of Saifrood Unity and Aid Organization, 150 flood-affected households received timely humanitarian assistance that helped reduce suffering, restore hope, and support the first steps toward recovery and rebuilding.

PARTNERSHIP

The project combined Rebuild Aid Forening’s grant management, donor compliance, financial oversight, and technical support with Saifrood Unity and Aid Organization’s strong local presence, community trust, and operational capacity in Badghis Province. This partnership enabled a rapid, transparent, and locally led humanitarian response while strengthening local disaster response capacity and community resilience.

SUSTAINABILITY

Although the intervention was designed as an emergency response, it contributed to longer-term resilience by enabling affected households to recover more quickly and make informed decisions about their own priorities. At the same time, the project strengthened local coordination mechanisms, humanitarian accountability, and SUAO’s institutional capacity to respond effectively to future natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

LESSONS LEARNED

The project confirmed that unrestricted cash assistance is one of the most effective humanitarian response mechanisms following natural disasters, as it allows affected families to prioritise their own recovery needs while preserving dignity and choice. It also demonstrated the importance of transparent beneficiary selection, strong community engagement, and close cooperation with local authorities to ensure fair, accountable, and efficient humanitarian assistance. The collaboration between Rebuild Aid Forening, SUAO, local government institutions, and community representatives was instrumental in achieving a successful and trusted humanitarian response.