A crisis on top of a crisis
Afghanistan's children have endured decades of conflict and sufferingFour years since the Taliban regained control in Afghanistan, conditions for children and their families are even more catastrophic.
A perfect storm of climate disasters, a severe economic crisis and the collapse of essential services have led to one of the worst food crises ever recorded. In 2025, two devastating earthquakes presented a crisis on top of a crisis.
The earthquakes in August and November came as the country was already enduring its worst humanitarian crisis in recent memory. Unprecedented levels of hunger and malnutrition combined with the worst drought in 30 years and a crippling economic crisis have left 2 out of 3 people in need of assistance. 3.2 million children under 5 are currently facing acute malnutrition.
Families are taking desperate measures to survive.Parents are withdrawing their children from school and sending them to work. In some extreme cases, children are being sold to cover debts or to buy food for other children in the family. It’s a heart-breaking dilemma for parents but they are left with little choice.
Now a dramatic escalation in conflict in the Middle East and wider region has triggered a rapidly expanding regional crisis with devastating consequences for children. Many families continue to return to Afghanistan from Iran and the numbers of people crossing borders may increase in the coming weeks.
We have been helping children in Afghanistan for over 40 years. We won't stop now. Donate to help children living in crisis.
Afghanistan emergency
Giving to Children Helping Hands’ Emergency Fund means we can act as soon as a crisis hits, and deliver lifesaving support to children wherever it is needed, when it matters most.
Donate to the Children’s Emergency Fund today to protect children in crisis and help create a world where every child can grow up safe, healthy and be treated fairly. Your support is needed now more than ever.
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Shayesta's* Story
1-year-old Shayesta* lives with her mother Zahida*, her father Khalid*, and her eight siblings in a rural village in northern Afghanistan.
Life is extremely difficult for the family. Zahida and Khalid often struggle to feed their children. There are no jobs in their village, so Khalid travels to the closest city to find employment, but it is often unreliable. Most days the family survive on tea and bread alone.
“Our biggest problem in life is a lack of food, water and bread. If there is no bread, people will die of hunger. If there is no water, on these hot summer days, people will die from thirst. All people rush to wells for water - they even fight over the water.”said Khalil*
Afghanistan is experiencing the worst drought it has seen for 30 years. which has caused crops to fail, livestock to die and put food and water further out of reach for children and their families.
The Children Helping Hands Mobile Health Team visit the family’s village once a week,providing primary, newborn and maternal healthcare, nutrition and mental health services. Thanks to these doctors, Shayesta is now being treated for malnutrition.
Life in Afghanistan Since the Taliban Returned to Power
Children in Afghanistan are going hungry. Decades of conflict, poverty and drought have pushed the people of Afghanistan into a humanitarian catastrophe. Read the stories of Afghanistan's hungry children.
Our work in Afghanistan
We have been working in Afghanistan since 1976 to deliver life-saving services to children and their families.
Since August 2021, Children Helping Hands has been scaling up its response in Afghanistan to support the increasing number of children in need.
We’re delivering health, nutrition, education, child protection, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene and food security, and livelihood support..
Following the latest escalations in the Middle East and Wider Region, we have reached over 7,500 people who were living in Iran and crossed the border into Afghanistan with emergency cash, healthcare, water, protection and education.
Children Helping Hands’ Emergency Fund has allowed Children Helping Hands to continue providing life-saving healthcare for children and their families when they need it most.
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