Afghanistan in crisis: how you can help

Last updated 26 June 2025

 

It's been four years since we saw the harrowing scenes from Afghanistan on TV and across social media. In Afghanistan today, decades of conflict and natural disasters have left two thirds of the population in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

Money raised from the Afghanistan Crisis Appeal, first launched in August 2021, was urgently channelled to people who were most in need. That includes:

• 3,000 tonnes of food relief – enough for 210,000 people. 

• 5,000 hygiene kits
• 3,500 kits containing household items.

Through our ongoing work in the country, teams have also established 47 healthcare clinics, a 70-bed hospital in Kabul, and set up cash voucher assistance for people affected by drought and food insecurity. 

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Recent work in Afghanistan

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has been present in Afghanistan for over 30 years. 

In October 2023, a series of earthquakes hit western Afghanistan near Herat city. It killed over 2,000 people and injured more than 9,000. The country is now facing a fifth year of drought-like conditions affecting more than 28 million people, and a fourth year of crippling economic decline.

At a time when 90% of households do not have enough to eat, teams are working to support as many people as possible. 

Most recently, the Afghan Red Crescent Society played a crucial role in response to population movement by becoming the first responder at the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

As of May 2025, this support included: 

• Providing shelters to 9,297 families in Nangarhar and Kandahar provinces.
• Distributing 3,000 hot meals daily at border camps.
• Delivering essential health services to 9,700 people in April and May.
• Installing 60 portable toilets and providing 650 sanitary kits. 

With over 30 years of experience in Afghanistan and a network of staff and 40,000 volunteers on the ground, Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement operations continue in Kabul and across the country.

How will the appeal help the people of Afghanistan?

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is on the ground across all 34 of Afghanistan’s provinces. We have over 140 health teams, including 70 mobile health teams who cover the entire country. 

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has been providing humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan for decades, working independently to meet huge and diverse needs across the country in all communities. We will not stop now. 

Donations will help us meet the basic needs of people in the region by providing food, medical supplies and medicines, shelter and water.

• £10 could provide food to those in Afghanistan going hungry.
• £25 could provide clean water to severely affected families.
• £50 could provide urgent medical care to those who need it, 
• £100 could provide cash based assistance to people who have been displaced from their homes. 

How many people are affected by the crisis in Afghanistan?

More than 28 million Afghan people need humanitarian support, which is over half of the country’s population. 

British Red Cross volunteer Amina* arrived in the UK in 2008, after leaving Afghanistan. She works as a volunteer interpreter, with refugees and people seeking asylum. She says her friends in the country are facing many challenges.

“I kindly ask the people in the UK to donate, to contribute, to have solidarity for people in Afghanistan, because this is very stressful and uncertain time for everyone in Afghanistan,” Amina said. “There is a crisis, there is no food, no money, no work. It is not an easy time for people in Afghanistan. If they can donate to the British Red Cross that will be a big help for people in Afghanistan."

*Amina's name has been changed

Where is Afghanistan?

Afghanistan is a land-locked country in Central Asia, bordered by Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Its capital is Kabul.

Why support the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in Afghanistan?

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has been providing humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan for decades, as well as in the UK through support to refugee programmes.

As a local agency, Afghan Red Crescent staff and volunteers are working in every province across the country, with direct access to support communities with ongoing relief operations and health services. 

Recognised for its neutrality, impartiality and independence, the Red Crescent has been able to help people living in isolated areas.

Where are Afghans going to?

There are around 4.2 million people internally displaced in Afghanistan, according to figures from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. 

We know from other situations around the world that the vast majority of people are hosted by countries that border the one they have left. In fact, 85 per cent of the world’s refugees are in developing countries. 

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are 2.6 million Afghan refugees, 2.2 million of whom are currently in Iran and Pakistan alone. 

 

How does the Red Cross work with refugees, people seeking asylum and vulnerable migrants?

The British Red Cross is the UK’s largest provider of services to refugees and people seeking asylum. In 2024 alone, we supported over 43,000 people, including 700 unaccompanied children. 

It is the role of the British Red Cross to support people in crisis, both in the UK and overseas. Supporting vulnerable people, based on need alone and regardless of their nationality, race, political, religious beliefs or immigration status is central to our work.  
 
We believe that people should have access to the support they need to stay safe and well regardless of their situation. Our ambition is to make sure ensure that anyone seeking a safer place to live has access to humanitarian protection and assistance and is supported to access their rights in a new country, like family reunion and education. We are proud to support people based on need and need alone.