Islamic Relief UK launches emergency appeal following increased conflict and displacement in Afghanistan

Today, Islamic Relief UK launches an emergency appeal for Afghanistan in response to the mass displacement of civilians following an escalation in the conflict. It is expected that there will be tens of thousands more families displaced across the country in the coming weeks.

Islamic Relief will help displaced families with food, emergency shelter, hygiene and water storage kits.

Due to the escalation, many people are arriving in Kabul and other large cities to escape the conflict. Approximately 10,350 internally displaced people (IDPs) have arrived in Kabul since the beginning of July, with thousands more reported to be displaced.[1]

Further assessments continue in regions such as Nangarhar where 28,000 people from Kunar have reportedly been displaced.[2]

The conflict builds on an already insecure situation in Afghanistan, which – without humanitarian intervention – could fall into famine. Droughts have left at least 13 million[3] people facing a food crisis and up to 9.5 million[4] potentially experiencing food insecurity.

Islamic Relief has been working in Afghanistan for over 20 years, and are one of the few aid agencies to continue working in Afghanistan during the military incursions.

Recently, our teams on the ground have distributed 13,061 food packs to the most vulnerable families in Kabul, Nangarhar, Balkh, Bamiyan, and Kapisa provinces.

Our Covid-19 response in Afghanistan has reached over 308,514 people, and we continue to raise awareness and support women facing gender-based violence.

Islamic Relief UK’s Head of Fundraising, Zia Salik said:

“We are deeply concerned by the current situation unfolding in Afghanistan. Already this month we have launched an emergency appeal in response to the threat of famine – and now, to compound the dire situation, we are seeing huge swathes of the country fleeing conflict.

As a humanitarian organisation it’s imperative that we do all we can do aid the thousands of civilians who have been displaced.”

 [END]

Notes to Editor

Spokespeople are only available in the UK.

Armani Ur-Rub – Senior Media Officer

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +4477 103 89316

About Islamic Relief 

Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired, development and humanitarian agency working to transform and save the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in over 40 countries. Islamic Relief assists people according to need and does not discriminate in any way. Set up in Birmingham in 1984 by a group of volunteers, we have assisted over 117 million people all over the world. We’re saving lives and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty in over 37 countries – from Bangladesh to Bosnia, Pakistan to Palestine, Kenya to Kosovo. Islamic Relief is on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places – including Syria and Yemen – strengthening the most marginalised communities to withstand conflict and natural disasters and to build a brighter future. We also support vulnerable people in the UK in partnership with local charities and organisations.

Footnotes: 

[1] https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-internal-displacement-kabul-flash-update-no-1-12-august-2021

[2] https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-humanitarian-response-kunar-conflict-displacement-12-august-2021

[3] https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-13-million-lack-food-drought-crisis-bites

[4] https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-ipc-acute-food-insecurity-analysis-march-november-2021-issued-april