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In mid August of 2021 Afghanistan was overtaken by Taliban forces following NATO's withdrawal from the Middle Eastern nation. Since then we have seen the humanitarian situation deteriorate at an alarming rate. This has led to families all over Afghanistan in urgent need of basic amenities like food, water and shelter.

The UN World Food Programme has warned that over half the countries population (22.8 million people) are facing acute hunger this winter. More than 8 million people are on the brink of famine, with 1 million children under the age of five at risk of dying over the next three months. It is important to remember that the situation in Afghanistan is highly complex with decades of warfare within the nation taking a considerable toll on the local people and has led to the country falling behind other middle eastern nations in its development.

The work of CAFOD's local partners has now resumed and they are preparing food packages and cash assistance to the families that need it most. The core of CAFOD's work in Afghanistan has been ongoing since the 1980s and has involved supporting local organisations to reach the people who are most at risk. They have already helped 8,000 small-scale farming families along with with 56,000 people in over 50 of the most drought-affected villages in the country to buy basic food for their families and plant their crops for the next season.

Pope Francis has expressed his, “unanimous concern for the situation in Afghanistan” and has called for prayers,“so that the clamour of weapons may cease, and solutions may be found at the negotiating table".

To donate to help the situation in Afghanistan please click the link here