Prevent Starvation in Afghanistan!

Summary: Thank you for taking the time to read about our cause. The recent situation in Afghanistan is incredibly grave although it no longer makes the headlines. In October, eight children from the same family starved to death in Kabul. https://www.savethechildren.org.au/media/media-releases/children-dying-from-starvation-in-kabul Others have been forced to sell one of their kids to feed the rest. Eyewitnesses report that several parents have left their children in local mosques, hoping that someone would take them home and feed them. 

 

Hi, I am Najim Dost, an Afghan-Canadian currently based in Ottawa. Together with some family and friends, we aim to raise at least $50K and deliver every penny to those most at risk of starvation before the winter hits. Anything you can share will go a long away. For example, USD1 is about 90 Afghanis (local currency) and will buy 9 naans or feed a starving family one meal. A $100 donation will feed an average family of 6 for one month or keep them warm during the brutal winter. Below is more information on the situation and how your donation will help.

 

The process: We follow a simple three-steps process to collect, transfer, and distribute cash to those at the greatest risk of starvation. Fundraising will be done by Afghan diaspora in North America, Europe and Australia. The funds will be transferred to a trusted team of volunteers on the ground, who will deliver 100% of it directly to the hands of people who were (a) financially too poor to begin with, and (b) whose source of income was interrupted in the last few months. And that is our unique value proposition (unlike most other organizations, our people are 100% volunteers) and we have zero admin or overhead costs. 

The latest situation: The Taliban take-over was horrible, but the latest economic and food crisis is a lot worse for ordinary Afghans. With capital flight and the country’s financial assets frozen internationally, there is little money in circulation domestically, leading to few buyers in the market and little purchasing power. Those who were reliant on salary (like teachers and civil servants who would normally get ~$200 a month) have not been paid since July. Meanwhile essential food prices are skyrocketing. Female-headed families are at disproportionately greater risk. A recent UNDP report predicted imminent near universal poverty: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Economic%20instability%20and%20uncertainty%20in%20Afghanistan%20after%20August%2015%20-%20a%20rapid%20appraisal.pdf Almost half the population (19 million people) are currently facing acute food insecurity (level 3+ on a 5-point scale): http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_Afghanistan_AcuteFoodInsec_2021Oct2022Mar_report.pdf

 

Next steps: We will transparently report how much was collected and how it was distributed on our website, www.AfghansAreStarving.org. We will keep all records and evidence, and make them available upon request.

 

Please donate whatever you can and share the link to spread awareness of the situation. Thank you!