Save the Children Committed to Supporting Afghan Refugee Families in America

National Leader for Protecting Children in Emergencies Setting up Child-Focused Spaces in Transition Centers and Shelters, Stands Ready to Provide Critical Relief Supplies

FAIRFIELD, Conn., 26 August, 2021  — As the United States begins welcoming newly-arriving Afghan children and families fleeing violence in their home country, Save the Children has mobilized its emergency response team to meet their most urgent needs.

Save the Children has established a safe play and activity area for children at a temporary shelter in northern Virginia, where children can have a moment to be children again, begin to express themselves and cope during this scary and stressful time. In addition, the non-profit’s emergency response staff is working to setup a private space for families with small babies at a transition center in northern Virginia, where parents and caregivers can change diapers, bathe and breastfeed their children.

 Save the Children also stands ready to support at other temporary shelters opening up across the country to support refugee children and families, as well as provide essential child-focused items, including hygiene kits, diapers, wipes and COVID-prevention materials.

 More than 80,000 children in Afghanistan have fled their homes since the start of June alone amid escalating violence, according to the UN.

“Afghan children have known nothing but conflict their entire lives, and many have faced emergency levels of hunger. They’re unsure of what the future may hold, and it’s critical we get them the supports they need to begin to recover during this difficult time,” said Janti Soeripto, Save the Children US’s President and CEO

“Save the Children is committed to ensuring Afghan children and their families are safe and protected as they seek refuge in America, and can begin to look toward a brighter future.” 

Save the Children is the national leader in protecting children in emergencies and an independent and impartial organization that has worked and has been helping families in Afghanistan since 1976, including providing health, education, child protection, and nutrition and livelihoods services. Save the Children has had to suspend the vast majority of its services in Afghanistan because of the instability of the situation but has committed to stay in the country and aims to resume its work as soon as it is safe to do so.

To support Save the Children’s efforts to help Afghan children and families, as well as children in crisis worldwide, please contribute to our Children's Emergency Fund.

Save the Children believes child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we’ve changed the lives of more than 1 billion children. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.