The Plight Of Refugees In Afghanistan: A Nation In Search Of Sanctuary

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in September 2021, thousands of Afghan citizens have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in other countries. In the UK, Refugee Action has been working around the clock to provide support to Afghan refugees, many of whom have arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs. Similarly, in the US, the International Rescue Committee has resettled 10,000 new arrivals, providing them with housing, food, and other basic necessities. However, the crisis in Afghanistan has also led to an increase in internal displacement, with hundreds of Afghan children crossing into Afghanistan from Pakistan every day, in need of food and shelter. Organisations like Save the Children have been working tirelessly to provide life-saving relief to those affected by the crisis, but the situation remains dire.

How to help Afghan refugees in the UK

The UK government has committed to helping resettle Afghan refugees, with up to 20,000 Afghans being given refuge in the UK. Here are some ways you can help:

Donate to charities

• Care4Calais: This charity has been appealing for donations of clothes, shoes, phones, and other essentials for Afghan refugees. You can find your nearest drop-off point on their website.
• The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army accepts clothes donations and runs 800 clothing banks across the UK.
• The British Red Cross: The British Red Cross is providing essential relief on the ground in 34 of Afghanistan's provinces, supporting hospitals and medical facilities. Donations will help provide food, basic medical supplies, shelter, and water.
• UK for UNHCR: UNHCR is delivering humanitarian supplies and emergency aid to displaced families in Afghanistan. Donations will help provide emergency shelter materials, food, water, and sanitary supplies.
• Choose Love: Choose Love is working with a network of Afghan-led organisations in the country. They are raising £200,000 to help supply aid and are encouraging people to write to their MPs to put pressure on the government to begin humanitarian evacuations.
• The Big Give: The Big Give is working with Afghanaid to support its Afghan Crisis Appeal. Donations will be match-funded.
• Turquoise Mountain: Turquoise Mountain has been working in Afghanistan for over 15 years and works with a community of dedicated staff, artisans, students, and families. They are raising funds to support those on the ground.
• UNICEF: UNICEF is working in Afghanistan to offer emergency relief in areas overtaken by Taliban soldiers. They need funds to help provide medical relief, food packages, and fresh drinking water to communities.
• Save the Children: Save the Children has been working in Afghanistan since 19786, providing charity to families. They are asking for donations to their emergency relief appeal to support children displaced by the conflict.
• Afghanaid: Afghanaid provides emergency food parcels, homes for displaced children, and helps communities rebuild. They have described the situation in Afghanistan as 'tremendously uncertain'.

Volunteer your time

If you are unable to donate money or resources, you can still volunteer your time to support Afghan refugees in the UK. Charities such as Care4Calais are always in need of dedicated volunteers. You can help by starting a fundraiser, launching a campaign, or offering a collection point for donations.

Write to your MP

You can write or email your MP to encourage them to put pressure on the government to welcome more Afghan refugees to the UK and provide additional support for resettlement.

How to help Afghan refugees in the US

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has resulted in thousands of Afghans fleeing to the US, with over 70,000 arriving since August 2021. These families often arrive with very few belongings and are in need of housing, food, and other basics. Here are some ways you can help Afghan refugees in the US:

Donate

Cash donations are the most flexible way to help address urgent needs. Donations can be used to pay for safe and stable housing, medical expenses, and more. You can donate to organisations such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which has 28 offices across the US helping newly-arrived Afghans. Other organisations accepting donations include the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) and Global Refuge.

Volunteer

There are many volunteer opportunities to help Afghan refugees, including:

• Helping to set up apartments with furniture and other home goods
• Running donation drives for new or gently-used items
• Tutoring or mentoring, especially for English language or citizenship exams
• Providing tech support and digital literacy assistance
• Offering pro bono legal services to assist with asylum applications
• Mobilising congregations to advocate on behalf of Afghan refugees

Offer Housing

Providing temporary or permanent housing is one of the biggest needs for Afghan refugees arriving in the US. Airbnb has an initiative to provide transitional housing for displaced people, including refugees from Afghanistan.

Offer Employment

Finding suitable employment is a challenge for many Afghan refugees. Employers can help by offering job opportunities to Afghan refugees, who have received employment authorisation in the US.

Form a Sponsor Circle

Groups of five or more community members can directly sponsor refugees through the Sponsor Circles initiative. Sponsor Circles can help with tasks like finding initial housing, stocking the pantry, connecting children to schools, and helping adults find employment.

How to help Afghan children

Afghanistan is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with children bearing the brunt of the violence. Here are some ways you can help Afghan children:

Donate to Organisations

Monetary donations to organisations working on the ground in Afghanistan are one of the most effective ways to help. UNICEF, for example, has been in Afghanistan for over 70 years, providing health care, nutrition, education, and protection services to children. They are currently preventing the collapse of the health system and treating children at risk of malnutrition. Save the Children has been working in Afghanistan since 1976, providing health care, nutrition, education, child protection, shelter, water, sanitation, and food security. The International Rescue Committee has been supporting more than 100 health facilities and providing safe learning spaces for children in rural areas.

Advocate for Afghan Children

You can also advocate for Afghan children by contacting your local representatives and urging them to take action. This could include calling for the safe evacuation of those in need of protection, such as Afghans who worked with or assisted U.S. personnel, and pushing for the expansion of refugee admissions programs to include more Afghan refugees. Additionally, you can sign petitions to help ensure women's rights, create safe passages for refugees, and raise awareness of refugee mistreatment.

Volunteer

If you live in an area with a high influx of Afghan refugees, such as Washington D.C., you can volunteer your time or resources to aid in resettlement efforts. This could include providing temporary housing, donating items such as kitchenware, cleaning products, laptops, and school supplies, or even just offering a warm welcome at the airport for those arriving.

How to help Afghans still in Afghanistan

The situation in Afghanistan is critical, with the country facing a severe economic crisis, consecutive droughts, and the suspension of development assistance. The Taliban's ban on female students attending university and working for INGOs has also had a devastating impact on the country. The crisis has resulted in an unprecedented hunger crisis, with children being deprived of their fundamental rights to education and healthcare.

Donate to Organisations

Humanitarian organisations like the International Rescue Committee (IRC) are committed to delivering vital aid to Afghans in crisis. IRC provides humanitarian relief and recovery assistance to Afghans affected by crises at home and abroad. IRC has been working in Afghanistan since 1988 and has a staff that is more than 99% Afghan. They provide support to displaced families, cash assistance, livelihood opportunities, and education. You can donate to the IRC to help support children and families in Afghanistan.

Save the Children is another organisation that has been working in Afghanistan since 1976. They have reached over 4.8 million people, including 2.4 million children, with life-saving services. They provide healthcare, nutrition services, and education to children and families in Afghanistan.

Other organisations you can donate to include Women for Afghan Women, the International Refugee Assistance Project, and the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee.

Advocate for Afghans

Email the White House to urge the Biden administration to take immediate action to protect vulnerable Afghans and ensure they have pathways to safety. You can also contact your legislators to advocate for the protection of Afghan translators and helpers who worked with the US military and remain in danger.

Volunteer

If you are in the US, you can volunteer with organisations like the IRC and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service to help Afghan refugees arriving in the country. This can include providing airport pickups, meal assistance, mentorship, tutoring, and more.

Support Afghan Businesses

Support Afghan businesses by purchasing from them or promoting their products and services. This can help provide economic relief to Afghans still in Afghanistan and contribute to the country's economic recovery.

Spread Awareness

Share information and raise awareness about the situation in Afghanistan through social media, community events, or other platforms. This can help keep the world's attention on Afghanistan and put pressure on leaders to take action.

How to help Afghans who worked with the US government

The US government has been supporting vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked with the US government in Afghanistan, to safely resettle in the United States. This effort is called Operation Allies Welcome.

Support Resettlement Agencies

Resettlement agencies, such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), play a crucial role in welcoming and supporting Afghan refugees. The IRC, for example, has deployed over 1,000 staff and volunteers to help with resettlement efforts. They provide essential services such as finding homes and temporary housing, providing food and emergency cash, and offering COVID-19 health orientation and assistance with applying for benefits.

Donate and Volunteer

The public can also contribute by donating to and volunteering with these resettlement agencies. For instance, the IRC received $180,000 in in-kind donations, such as mobile phone SIM cards, hygiene products, and baby supplies. Additionally, the IRC onboarded 2,000 new volunteers to support their efforts.

Contact Elected Representatives

Another way to help is by contacting your elected representatives and urging them to support policies that assist Afghan refugees. For instance, the IRC encourages people to call their members of Congress to advocate for the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would provide a pathway to lawful permanent residency for Afghan evacuees.

Community Sponsorship

If eligible, individuals can also participate in community sponsorship programs. For instance, the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans enables groups of individuals and community organizations to directly support Afghans who have been relocated to the United States.

Welcome and Integration Support

Finally, as Afghan refugees rebuild their lives in the United States, they will need support with various aspects of integration into American society and culture. This includes finding jobs, enrolling their children in school, and learning English.

By providing various forms of assistance, Americans can help Afghans who worked with the US government to start a new life and contribute to their new communities.

Frequently asked questions