In the rest of the world, people may enjoy the winter season, but in Afghanistan, the situation is the different for the majority of people, and there are various reasons behind this.
What challenges does it pose?
Winter not only temporarily shuts down most transport routes but also creates challenges for children, expectant mothers, and the elderly. This season sees a rise in disease rates, limited access to healthcare for pregnant women, and increased suffering for children due to harsh cold and economic struggles. Our living condition survey (baseline for our Empowering Rural Afghanistan program) result shows that even before entering the winter, 46% of households already face difficulties reaching health facilities, with travel times exceeding 2-3 hours in mountainous regions like Raghestan and Yawan districts in Badakhshan. These challenges intensify during winter when snow blocks roads, leading to documented cases of pregnant women and urgent patients losing their lives during attempted transportation to provincial centers. The economic difficulties and strain on households become particularly acute during winter. With average annual household incomes of just 90,838 AFN and 94% of households reporting their income as insufficient, households struggle to meet basic needs.
As winter arrives, households relying on daily wages are increasingly impacted, as cold temperatures and occasional rain or snow limit their job opportunities or hinder their ability to work. Our assessment reveals that households face an average annual deficit of at least 40,000 AFN, forcing 80% of households to borrow food or rely on help from relatives.
Afghanistan, heavily impacted by climate change, has seen its fuelwood reserves drastically diminish in recent years. Currently, seven kilograms of firewood costs about 150 Afghanis, or 2 US dollars. The challenging living conditions and rising prices for basic necessities have left the country in urgent need of humanitarian aid, with 68.4% of households already experiencing poor food consumption scores even immediately after harvest season (October – November).
The NAC Response
Recently the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee with the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF) funding, delivered essential winterization emergency winterization support to 1,630 vulnerable households in Badakhshan, Panjshir, and Parwan provinces as part of our humanitarian programs.
Each vulnerable household received USD 274 in Afghani and five blankets (four single and one double), helping them meet their winter clothing, fuel, and other essential needs.
Community Feedback
A woman in Panjsher says, “My name is Saifora, and I care for ten orphaned children without any support. Six were orphaned by my eldest son, and four by my second son. With the cash assistance I have received, I intend to buy food, shoes, and fuel for the stove.”
“The NAC performed a house-to-house survey to identify families eligible for winter assistance,” said Mohammad Juma, a resident of Deh Bala village in Parwan province. “Our community lacks the resources to meet basic needs during the harsh winter, making humanitarian aid our only relief.”
Malak Bibi, stated, “I have two disabled family members one with a hearing impairment and the other who struggles to walk. Winters are extremely cold here, so I will use this money to purchase coal and wood to keep my home warm for my children.”
It’s worth noting that NAC delivered winterization assistance to 3432 vulnerable households in six districts of Panjshir province last year.
Urgent Action is Needed
Despite these efforts from NAC and few other NGOs and international donors to support vulnerable households in winter, the assistance remains insufficient. Millions of Afghans still face a harsh winter without enough food and heating. Further support is needed to reach more households and to address winter-related vulnerabilities. Again, the priority should be given to rural and hard-to- reach communities, but not only through emergency winterization support but also longer term rural empowering initiatives, with aim to improve livelihood opportunities, food security and build resilience to better withstand seasonal and climate challenges in the years ahead.
