Now, thanks to our £125,000 grant from the Scottish Government, more families like Saif-ur-Rehman’s will receive the vital support they need to make it through the winter with dignity.
Solidarity and resilience
The crisis in Afghanistan is complex. Families are navigating the aftermath of earthquakes, the pressure of economic decline, and the return of millions of displaced people.
But within this hardship, there is incredible resilience.
We are privileged to support the work of our local partner whose team have been embedded in these communities for over 30 years. Because they are known locally and trusted, they can deliver aid to remote areas that are often difficult to reach.
Solomon Cornelius, Tearfund’s Afghanistan Country Manager, explains why the Scottish Government's support comes at a critical time.
‘Families affected by the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan are facing an exceptionally harsh winter,’ he says. ‘Many are still living in tents or damaged shelters, with little income and few ways to meet even their most basic needs.
‘This funding from the Scottish Government will enable Tearfund, working with our trusted local partner, to provide life-saving cash assistance, and winter survival kits such as blankets, tarpaulins and hygiene items for families most in need. This means they will be able to stay warm and meet their essential needs with dignity.
‘Importantly, we will also equip local staff with training in a form of psychological support known as Psychological First Aid, helping women, children, and people with disabilities begin to recover from the crisis and trauma they have experienced.’
How the Scottish funds will be used
The £125,000 grant from the Scottish Government will enable us to support 760 of the most vulnerable households – over 5,300 people – during the coldest winter months.
The response is designed to offer families dignity and choice:
- We are providing 680 households with cash assistance to cover their most urgent needs for one month, prioritising households headed by women and those caring for people with disabilities. This approach allows families to decide for themselves how to meet their most pressing needs, whether that’s food, medicine or fuel.
- For families who lost everything, we are distributing winter survival kits containing essential provisions such as heavy blankets, floor mats, tarpaulins, soap, toothpaste and feminine hygiene items.
- Local staff are being trained in Psychological First Aid to help men, women and children process the trauma of the earthquakes and the anxiety of displacement.
Bee Roy, Head of Tearfund Scotland, expresses deep gratitude to the Scottish Government for what she calls ‘this timely and compassionate funding’.
‘Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most challenging humanitarian crises, and the needs of earthquake-affected families are immense, particularly during the winter season,’ she says.
‘This support will help Tearfund reach people who have so far been left without adequate assistance, ensuring they can survive the winter and make their own choices about food, heating and healthcare. It reflects Scotland’s commitment to standing with communities facing the greatest hardship and helping to protect life and dignity in times of crisis.’
