”My house has become safer,” says Sayed Ali. We are helping repair homes damaged by conflict in central Afghanistan

Because of conflict over the last 20 years, hundreds of houses in Meli Khail —a village in Wardak Province— have been destroyed. Thousands of people have left their homes in this part of central Afghanistan and have been displaced to other communities nearby. Fighting and destruction have changed the face of the village into a nightmare. Once, Melik Khail was home to many families, but today, it is almost empty; the demolished houses and roads tell us a tale of woe.

During our visit, we met Sayed Ali (77), who lives with his 12 family members in Meli Khail village. He walks with the help of a cane because he has a disability. He tells us he suffered injuries during the fighting in his village several years ago. Ali's eldest son works for the government but earns a very meagre wage and is the family's only breadwinner. Consequently, Ali's family lives in poverty and can hardly afford food.

My village became a battlefield

Ali's family left for safety when their village became a battlefield between government forces and opposition groups. "Due to the conflict, we left our village and our home and went to another village. We just took some of our belongings and left. We had a difficult time and did not have enough food or supplies. We could not return to our home nor use supplies from our farmland," says Ali.

Since the change of government, Ali has returned to his home and found his house destroyed. "The doors and windows were destroyed, so we lived in rooms without them. We used plastic and curtains to avoid rain, sun, and cold weather getting into the room, but it did not work well. We had a difficult time," says Ali, adding that he could not buy proper windows and doors due to a lack of resources.

Windows and door for comfortable living

Recently, Ali was selected for support with repairs funded by the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF) and People in Need (PIN); together, we provided him with cash to buy essential materials to effect repairs

More than four decades of conflict, instability, and natural disasters left Afghanistan one of the most vulnerable countries regarding emergency needs. In addition to food and water, the primary need has been shelter assistance for displaced, host, and natural disaster and conflict-affected populations. According to a UNOCHA report earlier this year, about 9.7 million people will need emergency shelter and non-food items in 2023. 

With Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF) funding, People in Need provides shelter assistance, including minor, major, and transitional repairs in the Saydabad District of Wardak Province and Nijrab District of Kapisa Province. The assistance helps affected people with a safe and protected living space.