Save the Children in Afghanistan

We have been working in Afghanistan since 1976 to deliver lasting change to the lives of children across the country. We work closely with children, parents, teachers, village councils, religious leaders, government ministries, non-governmental organisations, and other stakeholders. Our programmes focus on Education, Health and Nutrition, Child Protection, Food Security and Livelihood, and Humanitarian Response.  

We also help children learn by ensuring both girls and boys are in school. Our programmes provide the opportunity for children that have left school to access community-based education opportunities as well as return to the formal education system. 

We provide quality healthcare and nutrition services to help children survive, especially in humanitarian contexts. We help build the capacity of health workers and support static and mobile health teams.

Together with our partners, we support and protect children that are especially vulnerable such as internally displaced children, returnees and children who are affected by climate change.

 

Husnia* (front, 6) and Hakimah* (4), lost their baby sister due to a lack of healthcare in Afghanistan

Reza* is 13 years old and lives with his extended family – including his sister-in-law Leila* (25) and her four children –in a single room home made from mud in Jawzjan province, northern Afghanistan. Their community is very remote and can only be accessed via a sandy track. Sacha Myers / Save the Children

Haya*, 10, holds her two-year-old sister, Sara*, who was treated for malnutrition at this Save the Children mobile health clinic in Afghanistan

Samrin* is 30 years old. She’s four months pregnant with her sixth child. Samrin* was born in Pakistan, however, her entire family including her husband as well as her in-laws have been forced to return to Afghanistan since they didn’t have legal permission to live in Pakistan permanently. Samrin*s husband is a day labourer who hasn’t had regular work since they returned to Afghanistan. As such, the family is experiencing severe food insecurity and the parents struggle to buy nutritious food for their children. Samrin*s two-year-old daughter, Sara*, became malnourished as a result. This resulted in Samrin* taking her daughter to a health facility for treatment. Over the course of several months, Sara* was given Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and, now, the two-year-old girl is healthy. Samrin*, however, continues to suffer from kidney problems, anaemia, and skin disease. She’s receiving treatment for these health conditions, but they persist. Looking forward, Samrin* hopes that her family will be able to afford nutritious food so that they can become healthy and strong in the future. She hopes that they’ll continue receiving support from Save the Children at the health clinic located nearby. Save the Children has supported Samrin* by providing regular treatment for her kidney problems, anaemia, and skin disease. In addition, the 30-year-old mother has been receiving monthly pre-natal check-ups for her pregnancy. Moreover, Save the Children treated Sara* for malnutrition by giving the two-year-old girl Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) over the course of several months until she became healthy again. Ummay Habiba / Save the Children

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COUNTRY OFFICE ADDRESS

Kabul, Afghanistan


EMAIL
Afghanistan.ACCM@savethechildren.org