Ashraful Aid has been providing assistance in Afghanistan with food and basic needs as well as supporting orphans for a number of years now. Alhamdulillah, during the harsh winter in February 2024, a team of 5 people from Ashraful Aid South Africa travelled to Kabul to offer further assistance as well as evaluate additional projects required in our ongoing support and commitment to alleviate the dire conditions that millions of Afgans grapple with on a daily basis with the Zakat, Sadaqah and Lillah collected by us.
In the district of Khush Hal Khan Selo in Kabul, 186 families were assisted with food parcels made up of rice, lentils, oil, flour, and other basic necessities that will provide for the family for up to two months. Each family was also given 2 blankets. The families were made up of those that lived locally and have returned from Pakistan and surrounding countries. In Farza, a further 96 families were assisted with wood stoves and 300kg of wood each in a joint project with IHH.
We also visited several families who live in difficult conditions. May families have been affected by the war, leaving many women widows and many men disabled and unable to work.
Unlike Syria there are no refugee camps, and families have to contend with the costs of rental and basic needs. Cash assistance was provided to families that were visited.
The team visited three education institutions that provide hifz, aalim and basic Islamic education for boys from the surrounding villages. Many children who attend the Madressahs are orphans and who reside at the Madressah. Children from the surrounding villages attend the Madressah as well with each Madressah catering for between 100 and 200 students. Currently the basic needs are provided from the families in the surrounding villages. We observed in at least two instances, the assistance provided was left over, dry bread with very little additional food provided for the students. The teachers are often unpaid.
The World Bank highlights the stark reality, with over 35% of the population living below the poverty line, grappling with inadequate access to fundamental necessities such as food, water, and shelter.
We also visited a rural village (Sadat Khal village in Wardak province) about 100km outside Kabul, where a masjid in a small 4 x 5m room caters for up to 350 families in the village and surrounds, and a few small buildings provide for the Madressah needs of over 100 students. The building are made of mud as are the houses in the village. Important to note that Afghanistan is one of the top 5 countries in the world prone to natural disasters, and the mud buildings are vulnerable to natural disasters.
Throughout our trip we were struck by the high quality of hifz education and the quality of quranic recitation by young boys. This should be nurtured.
We also visited two orphanages and a skills centre, although these centres are currently supported with funding from local and international sources. The donations given to Ashraful Aid collected through our fund raising initiatives in Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Zambia and other regions made it possible for our team to provide further assistance to over 200 families in Kabul during the course of the recce.
Future projects aimed at uplifting the people of Afganistan
Ashraful Aid’s intervention in Afghanistan is multifaceted, offering not only immediate relief through the provision of food, water, and essential supplies but also focusing on sustainable development initiatives.
- Food parcel assistance for families.
- Madressah support through monthly food assistance.
- Orphan support for basic needs, food, education and housing.
- Small business support for chicken and livestock farming.
- Masjid building project in Sadat Khal village, Jagatu district, Wardak province.
- Small industry Development support and funding.
- Micro finance for small businesses.
With a population of 40 million people and an average household size of over 6 members per household, the needs for assistance with basic needs is ongoing. Over and above this, however, community development initiatives, Madressah support and small business support are the three areas where Ashraful Aid can provide assistance.
Income support through the provision of chickens of livestock to widows, disabled and orphan families can provide a means of income for poverty-stricken households. Eggs can be sold, and milk and baby goats can be sold. There are also opportunities to invest in skills development and small industry projects, although these will require further assessment.
Photos from our Trip in February 2024
