# DEC launches Afghanistan Crisis Appeal - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/12/15/dec-launches-afghanistan-crisis-appeal/ - Published: 2021-12-15T05:01:00+00:00 - Author: Howard Lake **The Disasters Emergency Committee has launched an emergency appeal to help prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan. Eight million people in the country are at risk of starvation over the harsh winter months.** Aid workers yesterday said that there was a “small window of opportunity” to respond before the freezing winter sets in. The people of Afghanistan have faced conflict, economic collapse and the worst drought in 27 years. The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbates the problems faced by many. ## Advertisement Maryann Horn, Senior Advisor, Humanitarian Crises and Emergencies, for the British Red Cross, spent a month in Afghanistan visiting health programmes in remote locations and said she saw desperation all around.   ![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2021/12/maryann-home-red-cross-dec-afghanistan- crisis-appeal-20211214.jpg) Maryann Home, British Red Cross, speaking at the launch of the DEC appeal. Photo: Andy Hall/DEC She said: > “You can see it in the children’s faces, sunken eyes, hard stomachs, children > who should be running around and laughing. > “People are living hand to mouth not knowing where the next meal will come from. > What I’m experiencing is a sense of desperation in Afghanistan, where people are > traditionally resilient. Speaking at the launch of the DEC’s Afghanistan Crisis Appeal she added: “We’re full of hope that with a little bit of help, we can do great things and continue to support those who are at the coalface.” ## Donations to be doubled Leading UK aid agencies will launch the joint fundraising appeal on Wednesday 15 December, with appeal films played after the news on BBC, ITV, Sky, Channel 4 and Channel 5.  Donations from the public will be matched pound for pound by the UK Government up to a total of **£10 million **through its UK Aid Match scheme. This support will double the impact of the public’s own donations and will ensure that charities working on the ground can reach more people in need.  Through UK Aid Match the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office gives the British public the opportunity to have a say in how the UK aid budget is spent whilst boosting the impact of British charities to change and save the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.  ![A midwife from one of Afghan Red Crescent's mobile health teams conducts health checks during a regular community visit. Photo: Afghan Red Crescent/Meer Abdullah]( https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2021/12/afghan-midwife-afghan-red-crescent- meer-abdullah.jpg) A midwife from one of Afghan Red Crescent’s mobile health teams conducts health checks during a regular community visit. Photo: Afghan Red Crescent/Meer Abdullah The appeal will fund DEC charities and their local partners to provide emergency food and nutrition support for children, support healthcare facilities, provide winter kits to help displaced families stay warm, supply clean drinking water and protect women and girls.  When large-scale disasters hit countries without the capacity to respond, the DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently. Saleh Saeed, DEC Chief Executive, said at the press conference: > “Right now, 13 of the DEC charities are on the ground in Afghanistan working tirelessly. > They are managing to reach even the most remote communities providing a lifeline > with emergency food or cash for food to buy food. Please enable our amazing teams > to scale up their emergency work and help save lives.” Fiona McSheehy, Director Humanitarian Operations for Save the Children UK, who is currently in Afghanistan, added that cases of malnutrition and associated pneumonia are increasing, shops are closing and the banking system collapsing.  Tufail Hussain, UK Director of Islamic Relief, spent six days in Afghanistan in late November and early December. He told the press conference he was devastated when two women in separate cases came to their offices and asked staff to take their children.  He added: “Our teams are ready. We have our community volunteers mobilised, we have suppliers lined up. We just need the support of the generous British public to be able to reach as many as possible before the winter sets in.”  Since 1966 the DEC has launched **[74 emergency appeals](https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/appeals-archive)** in response to major disasters overseas. Donations totalling **£1.7 billion** have been given in response. This is the first to support the people of Afghanistan. * **[Emergency appeals launched for Afghanistan](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/08/18/emergency-appeals-launched-for-afghanistan/)( 18 August 2021)** * **[Free fundraising coaching offer for charities responding to the Afghanistan crisis](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/08/27/free-fundraising-coaching-offer-for-charities-responding-to-afghanistan-crisis/)( 27 August 2021)** * **[Grants programme launched for churches supporting Afghan refugees](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/11/15/grants-programme-launched-for-churches-supporting-afghan-evacuees/)( 15 November 2021)** ## Comments ### By: HowardLake - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/12/15/dec-launches-afghanistan-crisis-appeal/#comment-4069 - Published: 2021-12-16T08:31:58+00:00 Charities Aid Foundation is supporting the DEC appeal. Neil Heslop, Chief Executive of Charities Aid Foundation, said: “Charities Aid Foundation is supporting the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for the Afghanistan Crisis, where the situation is fast moving and extremely concerning. More than 22 million people are going hungry as the freezing winter sets in, with children amongst the most vulnerable. If we don’t act now, many lives could be lost. “DEC charities with experience in ensuring aid reaches those most in need in some of world’s most dangerous and deprived areas are already on the ground and scaling up their operations – they are a safe and effective way to help and make a real difference. Support through this appeal will help DEC charities and their local partners whose immediate focus is to save lives and provide food and emergency nutrition support for children.” Donations can be made through Charities Aid Foundation to the Appeal here: [https://www.cafonline.org/my-personal-giving/start-giving/donate-now/support-the-dec-afghanistan-appeal](https://www.cafonline.org/my-personal-giving/start-giving/donate-now/support-the-dec-afghanistan-appeal) ### By: HowardLake - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/12/15/dec-launches-afghanistan-crisis-appeal/#comment-4070 - Published: 2021-12-17T05:48:18+00:00 Peace Direct has launched a Solidarity Fund to support peacebuilding and women’s rights organisations in Afghanistan in response to the growing crisis in the country. The Afghanistan Solidarity Fund, which Peace Direct hopes to increase to £1million over the next twelve months, will initially support local networks in 5 provinces. The fund has been set up by Peace Direct in partnership with Equality for Peace and Democracy (EPD), a Kabul-based non-profit, non-governmental organisation. It delivers projects to support and empower women and young people in communities across Afghanistan. EPD also supports local civil society organisations to identify the root causes of the issues they face and builds their capacity to advocate for their human rights and supports locally-led peace-building efforts, as well as influencing democratic processes in the country. [https://www.peacedirect.org/afghanistan-solidarity-fund/](https://www.peacedirect.org/afghanistan-solidarity-fund/) ### By: HowardLake - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/12/15/dec-launches-afghanistan-crisis-appeal/#comment-4071 - Published: 2021-12-20T06:58:23+00:00 HRH The Prince of Wales has issued a message of support for the DEC’s Afghanistan Crisis Appeal which has now raised more than £17.5 million in under a week, with aid already being distributed on the ground.