Addressing winter challenges: Our cash distributions helps Afghans in need
Published: May 17, 2024 Reading time: 2 minutes
Hanifa, 54, lives in a modest home in Sang Sulakh village in central Afghanistan with her son, daughter-in-law, and ailing mother-in-law. Nearly all their neighbours face similar financial hardships. "I have 6 children, 3 sons and 3 daughters, my daughters are married, and two of my sons, after their father's passing, moved away. My husband used to work as a labourer, and after he passed away, we were left with no breadwinner for a long time," says Hanifa.
Hanifa is among the most in-need families in the village. Her economic situation is dire as there is a lack of job opportunities for women, and she faces significant challenges coping with the harsh winter and her mother-in-law's illness. “After losing my husband, my younger son took on the responsibility of taking care of our family. He used to work on our land, but since the flood, he resorted to casual labour. However, during winter, there is no work for him, so he is currently unemployed, and we rely on support from relief agencies and the other villagers to meet our needs,” she explains.
Most residents of the Behsood e Markazi district live below the poverty line, and due to its remote mountainous location, they do not have access to basic needs. Despite owning some agricultural plots, they struggle to afford basic winter necessities. Limited opportunities and long winters prevent them from earning sufficient incomes. “Here we have a long winter. This means we can only work for around 3 - 4 months a year and must make it last the entire winter,” says Hanifa.
We distributed cash to meet winterisation needs
“People in Need’s team surveyed our home, closely assessed my financial situation, and observed our challenges. They noticed that my 90-year-old mother-in-law was gravely ill and in need of a warm room and winter clothes," she explains. “Because of the People in Need intervention, I received AFN 24,370 ($331), to purchase items such as wood, blankets, and clothes,” Hanifa continues.
Last winter 6.3 million people in Afghanistan needed winterisation support. People in Need, with funding from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, distributed cash for winterisation assistance for nearly 13,000 people in 51 villages and 6 districts in Maidan Wardak, Central Afghanistan to provide emergency support to those most affected by the winter.
