Afghanistan

Afghanistan is the poorest country in Asia. Even before the punishing response to the attacks on the USA in September 2001, Afghans had suffered from 20 years of conflict and a three–year drought. Most people lack sufficient food, clothing, housing or even medical care.

Seven million people are vulnerable to severe food shortages and around three and half million have been displaced from their homes.

ActionAid in Afghanistan
During 2002 ActionAid joined the massive international effort to rehabilitate a shattered Afghanistan.

We began working in 31 northern villages, helping the inhabitants identify their most urgent needs through community planning meetings and helping them find funds from the government or foreign donors.

Early successes included raising funds to dig wells and build shelters in Jawzjan province and running training programmes for students, development workers and government officials. Our work has since expanded to more than 60 villages.

In March, 2005, with ActionAid support, a delegation of Afghani women travelled to the US and UK to advocate for the rights of their fellow countrywomen. 

Trafficking of women is on the rise in Afghanistan, as are rape, forced marriage, drug use and domestic abuse.  Afghan females have no inheritance rights, find it nearly impossible to divorce, and are struggling to regain their health and livelihoods. 

We work to help the poorest and most excluded people have a say in their country’s future. Our priority areas of work are women’s rights, education, governance and capacity-building of government and non-government organisations

photo : ©Jenny Matthews/ActionAid