Our Response Approach

Save the Children, as a humanitarian organisation, maintains an Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) and contingency plans to respond rapidly to humanitarian crises, addressing the unmet needs of children and their families. We use a hybrid approach, combining direct implementation with support through local partners. Two partners have been identified and signed in each province, enabling local actors to participate in response activities from the earliest stages. While we prioritise our targeted provinces, response activities can extend to other affected areas based on assessed needs and gaps, alleviating suffering, improving protection and wellbeing, and reducing negative coping mechanisms.

Earthquake Response

We participated in coordination meetings and assessments of earthquake-affected families in Kunar and Nangarhar, providing the following services to disaster-affected households to alleviate suffering, and improve protection, dignity, and wellbeing, while enabling families to meet their basic needs:

  • Distribution of Cash: Disaster-affected families received Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and cash for winterisation, allowing them to procure essential items and protect themselves from harsh weather.

  • Distribution of Non-Food Items (NFIs): Families received NFI kits, shelter repair toolkits, and winterisation kits to support food preparation, home repair, and coping with harsh conditions, reducing the risk of seasonal illness among children and their families.

  • Protection Services: Disaster-affected children were supported through child-friendly spaces and cash for protection, improving psychosocial wellbeing and enabling them to meet their unmet needs.

  • WASH Services: Provision of WASH None Food Items (NFI)s, water, latrines, and hygiene promotion helped mitigate waterborne disease risks and improve environmental sanitation.

  • Health and Nutrition Services: Health and nutrition services were provided to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.

  • Education Services: We distributed student, teacher, and school kits to prevent educational gaps and rehabilitate damaged schools.

Mirwais* (6) sits on his sister Arzoo's* bed at their home in Afghanistan

Lida* (44) and her husband Hassan* (41) live with their four children – including 10-month-old Arzoo* – in northern Afghanistan. The family live off the land, planting wheat and vegetables. However, ongoing drought means crops fail and they find it hard to harvest any produce. Sacha Myers / Save the Children

Returnees’ Response

As members of the Border Consortium, we provide services based on needs and gaps in Nangarhar, Kandahar, and Herat provinces. We delivered multi-sectoral support according to identified needs:

  • Health and Nutrition: 24/7 services in Nangarhar and Kandahar; services in Herat provided according to the schedule agreed by humanitarian actors.
  • WASH: Provision of safe drinking water, establishment of latrines, installation of dustbins, hygiene kit distribution, hygiene promotion, and cleaning of sanitation facilities.
  • Protection: Child-care centres, psychosocial kits, children and adult help desks, Child Care and Learning Spaces (CCLS), and cash for protection.
  • Shelter and NFIs: Winterisation kits, kitchen kits, and other household NFIs were provided to returnee families.
Families who have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan.

Nafisa Rahimi / Save the Children

Winterisation Response

As part of our emergency preparedness and response plan, we support vulnerable children in Community-Based Education (CBE) classes with individual winterisation kits. Vulnerable and disaster-affected households also receive winter clothing, blankets, and cash for winterisation to prepare for harsh weather and reduce seasonal disease risks.

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Basira Afzal / Save the Children

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR OTHER PROGRAMMES IN AFGHANISTAN