About us News Campaign Fundraise Volunteer Pray Schools and youth Donate You are here : Home > News > Emergencies news > Afghanistan: Help us reach people caught up in the crisis Afghanistan crisis: How CAFOD is responding and how you can help 22 November 2021 We are doing everything possible to ensure the immediate wellbeing of vulnerable communities and the local experts we work with. The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled their homes, compounding an existing crisis following periods of drought and decades of conflict. As winter approaches, millions of people face hunger and extreme poverty. Donate to the Afghanistan Crisis Appeal What is the current situation in Afghanistan? The humanitarian situation has deteriorated since mid-August when the Taliban took over the capital Kabul and took control of Afghanistan. Afghan families are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance: food, water and shelter. More than half the country’s population – around 22.8 million people – are facing acute hunger this winter, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned. The situation in Afghanistan is highly complex with decades of conflict that have taken a terrible toll on Afghan people, resulting in deaths, injuries and pushing families further into poverty. Drought and coronavirus have added even greater problems for vulnerable families struggling with hunger and healthcare. Pray for the people of Afghanistan How are CAFOD and local experts responding to the situation? The work of our local partners has now resumed, and they are preparing to provide food packages and cash assistance to vulnerable families. 4,000 displaced Afghan families will be supported to access clean drinking water (through the provision and installation of 200 water tanks) and will be provided with hygiene kits. We will be supporting Afghans who have urgent humanitarian needs over the coming months – both within Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries – whilst also continuing to provide longer-term support. Donate now We work with trusted partners who are close to the communities they serve and are therefore able to ensure your donation securely reaches those who need it most. CAFOD started working in Afghanistan in the late 1980s and a core part of our work has been to support Afghan organisations committed to improving the lives of vulnerable and marginalised people, supporting them to earn a living. What has the Catholic Church said about the situation in Afghanistan? Pope Francis has expressed his “unanimous concern for the situation in Afghanistan”. He called for prayers “so that the clamour of weapons may cease, and solutions may be found at the negotiating table". The leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, has called on the UK government to allow more refugees to come to the UK in light of the situation in Afghanistan. Ask your MP to support refugees fleeing Afghanistan In a joint letter to the Guardian newspaper on 26 August, Bishop Paul McAleenan, lead bishop for migrants and refugees of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, urged the British government "to go further in helping at-risk Afghans, human rights defenders and women activists, and create safe passages so that people can find sanctuary without resorting to dangerous journeys.” Please continue to keep the people of Afghanistan in your thoughts and prayers. How can I help? Donate to our Afghanistan Crisis Appeal Email your MP Pray with us Back to top Donate to the Afghanistan 2021 Crisis Appeal Your donations will help us reach vulnerable people caught up in the crisis Most Popular Work with us Contact us What we do How you can help Give Latest campaigns Prayer resources A-Z of fundraising ideas CAFOD on social media Blog Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Snapchat Stay Connected Would you like to receive updates on campaigns, appeals and simple ways you can support people living in poverty? Title Select Mr Mrs Ms Miss The Rev Sister Brother Dr Prof Lady Sir Lord First name Last name Email Site map Legal information Contact us Privacy notice Modern slavery statement The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International. Charity no 1160384 and a company limited by guarantee no 09387398. © CAFOD 2003–2021