Our support reached over 13,500 people in Afghanistan this winter

Many people have lost their primary income earners and now struggle to meet their needs. With little or no income, some families are forced to seek refuge in other countries or move to different cities in search of work, a chance that is often out of reach, especially for female-led households.

Those who remain face a daily battle to survive. Mothers wrap their children in every scrap of clothing they have, praying it will be enough to endure another night.

Amid these challenges, families in the Jaghuri district of the Ghazni Province are doing their best to survive the harsh winter with limited access to proper heating or winter clothing. Bakhtawar (40) has three children and lives with her daughters in Shahrak-e-Noor village. Five years ago, she lost her husband.

Economic despair

Poverty and the lack of job opportunities in Afghanistan not only strain families economically but also tear them apart. For many years, cross-border migration to Iran and Pakistan, as well as involvement in drug smuggling — both within the country and beyond — have become means of survival for those with no other source of income. These harsh choices often lead to addiction, exploitation, and further impoverishment, pulling countless families even deeper into hardship.

“Now my son is following in husband’s footsteps and is also addicted. It’s been a long time since we’ve heard from him. Right now, it’s just me and my two daughters. We are struggling to find even a loaf of bread to eat. We’ve spent many nights without food,” she says.

Winter’s harsh weather brings more cold, deepens hunger, and lowers the insufficient daily income. “My daughters sew scarves and do handicrafts, earning daily wages of less than 100 AFN ($1.40). That’s only enough to buy dry bread. For everything else, we rely on humanitarian assistance,” Bakhtawar adds.

“During autumn, I collect wood and leaves, dry them, and save them for winter. We use them for heating, boiling water, and, if possible, cooking. I built an oven inside the room. It’s where we eat, cook, and sleep, because in the winter, it’s the only way to stay warm,” she explains.

13,589 individuals received winterisation assistance

Providing winterisation assistance and other essential support to families in Afghanistan is a crucial step in supporting resilient communities.

“The PIN team visited our household and found that we needed this support. Today, I came to the distribution point to receive assistance. I received 19,820 AFN ($274) and five blankets. With this monetary help, I can get through the winter, and these blankets will serve us for many years,” says Bakhtawar.

Through this project, funded by the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, we have supported thousands of individuals like Bakhtawar in 31 villages in southeast Afghanistan. This emergency assistance included cash for winterisation, clothing, and family blanket kits. A total of 13,589 individuals received this support.