"Now we are able to pay off the loan and purchase oil, wheat, and rice," says Zahid from Afghanistan. We distributed cash-for-food assistance to 17,172 people

Zahid (16) was a student, but following his brother's death, he started working to help his father provide food for the family. Currently, he lives with his six nephews, three widows of his late brothers, and one surviving elder brothers. "When my older brothers were alive, I used to study in the village Madrasa. But after they passed away, my father, despite being old and unable to do hard work, continued to work to provide food for us. He never gave up and worked tirelessly to meet our needs," says Zahid.

Now, it is our responsibility.

Most villagers in Sabz Sang need humanitarian support as their village was severely affected by fighting. Furthermore, many villagers are suffering from climate change and migrating to other provinces or countries to provide for their family's basic needs.

"My father had to borrow money from relatives and villagers, and he was in debt to almost all the shopkeepers in the village. Whenever they saw me, they would ask about their loans. It was challenging for me to witness my father's struggle, so I went to Samangan, where I worked in a coal mine for almost 3 months," says Zahid. "My older brothers were farmers, and when they passed away, they left behind 3 widows and 6 children. Now, it is our responsibility to take care of them and provide for them, as my father alone cannot afford to support the entire family," he adds.

"When the PIN technical team surveyed our village, they identified our family as one of the most vulnerable families in the village. As a result, we received cash for food assistance. When I looked at my father's face, I could see his excitement at receiving this assistance. Now he is able to pay off the loan and purchase oil, wheat, and rice," says Zahid.

Almost 30 million people need aid

According to UN OCHA, in 2023, an estimated 29.2 million people (68 per cent of all Afghans) needed urgent humanitarian aid to survive. This figure comprises 23 per cent women, 54 per cent children, and 8.3 per cent people with severe disabilities. Some 15.3 million people (38 per cent of Afghanistan's total population) were projected to be affected by acute food insecurity between May and October 2023. Furthermore, basic health services are out of reach for roughly 25 per cent of the population.

People In Need, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, distributed cash-for-food assistance to 17,172 vulnerable people comprising 8,502 males and 8,670 females in 19 villages in Jaghatu and 35 villages in central Afghanistan.