At just 12 years old, Shehnaz* carries a burden far heavier than most children her age. After a devastating earthquake destroyed her family’s home, they found themselves living in a makeshift tent in the Noorgal Sohail camp in Kunar province, Afghanistan.
Having lost her father since the disaster, Shehnaz felt a deep responsibility as the eldest sibling. She watched helplessly as rain and snow fell, turning their crowded tent – shared with two or three other families – into a freezing environment. With no prior experience of living in such harsh conditions, her younger siblings quickly grew sick. As a family, they simply didn’t have enough money to buy the medicine they desperately needed.
This heartbreaking scenario was echoed across the region. In freezing camps and temporary shelters, parents have been forced to watch their children struggle against the bitter elements. Families who have lost their homes, incomes, and security have watched their children battle relentless winter illnesses, draining whatever little means they had for basic survival.
Vital support in a time of crisis
Three major earthquakes hit eastern Afghanistan in six days last year, killing more than 2,200 people, injuring over 3,600 and destroying entire villages.
In the midst of this overwhelming desperation, vital support arrived. A £125,000 grant from the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund allowed Tearfund, alongside a trusted local partner, to step into the gap. This funding reached 830 of the most vulnerable households during the freezing winter months.
The cash assistance distributed by Tearfund’s partner was transformative. It was not just about survival; it was about giving families dignity and the power to choose how best to care for their loved ones.
For Shehnaz’s family, the relief was immediate. With the cash support, she and her mother were able to purchase the exact medicines her sick siblings required and buy basic household supplies. This significantly lifted the crushing economic stress off their shoulders.
In addition to cash support, Tearfund’s partner has also been distributing winter survival kits containing essential provisions such as heavy blankets, floor mats, tarpaulins, soap, toothpaste and feminine hygiene products. Local staff have been trained in Psychological First Aid to help men, women and children process the trauma of the earthquakes and the anxiety of displacement.
Standing with communities
Solomon Cornelius, Tearfund’s Afghanistan Country Manager, reflects on the immense challenges these families have faced over the past few months, and the difference this intervention has made.
‘Families affected by the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan have faced an exceptionally harsh winter,’ he noted. ‘And many are still living in tents or damaged shelters even now, with little income and few ways to meet even their most basic needs. The funding we received from the Scottish Government enabled Tearfund, working with our trusted local partner, to provide life-saving cash assistance. This has meant families like Shehnaz’s have been able to protect themselves from the bitter cold and meet their essential needs with dignity.’
Bee Roy, Head of Tearfund Scotland, expressed profound gratitude for this timely support.
‘Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most challenging humanitarian crises, and the needs of earthquake-affected families are immense,’ she explains. ‘Tearfund has been able to reach people through our partner who have so far been left without adequate assistance.
‘We know many people in Scotland have also supported our Afghanistan earthquake appeal since it was launched last year. Thank you to everyone who has stood with communities facing this great hardship, helping us to respond and support those in need.’
The road ahead
While the Scottish funds brought crucial warmth, dignity, and hope to thousands of people, the crisis in Afghanistan remains deeply complex. The aftermath of the earthquakes, combined with severe economic pressure and the displacement of families, means the need is still staggeringly great. Families survived the bitter winter, but they are still on a long journey to full recovery and rebuilding their lives.
Please continue to pray and give to this ongoing work. To support communities as they recover, please visit the appeal.
*Name has been changed to protect identity.
