Emergency Aid
AIL has an Emergency Aid program which it uses to respond to crises whether natural or man made and to assist the poor who are in need. During Ramadan each year staff distribute food aid parcels to the poor and frequently give out aid during the winters.
Flooding in Parwan in August 2020
AIL has been able to provide aid to 200 families including cooked food, floor coverings, blankets and shovels and picks. Many communities were devastated by the floods that occurred in the night leaving many people without food or shelter
AIL has been able to provide aid to 200 families including cooked food, floor coverings, blankets and shovels and picks. Many communities were devastated by the floods that occurred in the night leaving many people without food or shelter
Flooding occurred in April 2019 in many provinces.
Devastating flooding has occurred in 7 provinces of Afghanistan, including Herat. Many lives were lost and thousands of people have lost homes, livelihoods and now are in desperate need of the basics for living.
AIL is working to aid survivors by providing food and clothing and possibly other items, expanding their usual food aid program to meet the needs of this catastrophic event. Dr. Yacoobi (AIL’s CEO) said, “It is a terrible situation for so many people, especially the poor who have few resources to draw on. They lack family to go to in other areas and have lost what shelter they had. Everyone needs food, water and shelter.”
One example of a disaster is the flooding that occurred in 6 Districts of Herat City in April 6, 2017.
The excessive rains proved too much for the banks of the river near Herat city and for ground water levels. Devastating flooding occurred in six districts of Herat city when the river overflowed and wells back up causing widespread flooding. Three of the affected districts have AIL Learning Centers and families in those communities were impacted. Communities were hit by river flooding but also by the water logged ground being so saturated that wells backed up and flooded houses far from the river itself. Many Afghan houses are built of mud with no central water supply so houses have their own wells and outhouses for sanitation. Many people lost homes and livelihoods. AIL responded with distributions of food kits (rice, oil, beans).
AIL’s focus is on education and health but when communities in which AIL works are affected by disasters then staff get involved and use emergency aid funds to buy oil, rice and beans to distribute to needy families.
AIL staff member said, “ It is a terrible flood, so many people have lost their homes. Much work will need to be done to rebuild houses or make them habitable again. We want to provide as much food aid as we possibly can.”
The excessive rains proved too much for the banks of the river near Herat city and for ground water levels. Devastating flooding occurred in six districts of Herat city when the river overflowed and wells back up causing widespread flooding. Three of the affected districts have AIL Learning Centers and families in those communities were impacted. Communities were hit by river flooding but also by the water logged ground being so saturated that wells backed up and flooded houses far from the river itself. Many Afghan houses are built of mud with no central water supply so houses have their own wells and outhouses for sanitation. Many people lost homes and livelihoods. AIL responded with distributions of food kits (rice, oil, beans).
AIL’s focus is on education and health but when communities in which AIL works are affected by disasters then staff get involved and use emergency aid funds to buy oil, rice and beans to distribute to needy families.
AIL staff member said, “ It is a terrible flood, so many people have lost their homes. Much work will need to be done to rebuild houses or make them habitable again. We want to provide as much food aid as we possibly can.”
Herat Emergency Food Aid 2016
AIL staff were quick to respond to the needs of the poor in the area of the main office. In January, there were about 100 people lined up, hoping for work to buy food but they were being turned away. Dr. Yacoobi instructed staff to purchase sheep and a thousand pieces of bread. These were distributed to help the families and plans are in place to provide more aid in the harsh winter weather. In June, AIL was able to put together food packs for 150 families.Each kit included 8kg of rice, 3kg of oil, and 1kg of tomato paste. A second distribution was made in July to 75 families in a coordinated effort with 4 other NGOs and the government.
2015 Devastating Earthquake in Afghanistan
On 26th October, 2015 there was a devastating 7.5 earthquake centered in the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan's Badakhshan Province, which borders Pakistan. Many people in the area around Peshawar, Pakistan lost everything. AIL has worked with people in Pakistan for decades and has an office in Peshawar and extensive contacts in the area, as well as frequent experience of helping with natural and other disasters.
Staff responded immediately identifying 1,000 people they could help in the Peshawar area. A team prepared supplies which consisted of blankets, one week family food parcels– rice , lentils, oil, sugar, tea, floor coverings and cooking utensils. AIL staff accompanied the rented truck and driver to make the deliveries helping many desperate families.
Herat Emergency Food Aid 2016
AIL staff were quick to respond to the needs of the poor in the area of the main office. In January, there were about 100 people lined up, hoping for work to buy food but they were being turned away. Dr. Yacoobi instructed staff to purchase sheep and a thousand pieces of bread. These were distributed to help the families and plans are in place to provide more aid in the harsh winter weather. In June, AIL was able to put together food packs for 150 families.Each kit included 8kg of rice, 3kg of oil, and 1kg of tomato paste. A second distribution was made in July to 75 families in a coordinated effort with 4 other NGOs and the government.
2015 Devastating Earthquake in Afghanistan
On 26th October, 2015 there was a devastating 7.5 earthquake centered in the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan's Badakhshan Province, which borders Pakistan. Many people in the area around Peshawar, Pakistan lost everything. AIL has worked with people in Pakistan for decades and has an office in Peshawar and extensive contacts in the area, as well as frequent experience of helping with natural and other disasters.
Staff responded immediately identifying 1,000 people they could help in the Peshawar area. A team prepared supplies which consisted of blankets, one week family food parcels– rice , lentils, oil, sugar, tea, floor coverings and cooking utensils. AIL staff accompanied the rented truck and driver to make the deliveries helping many desperate families.
,AIL has emergency response funds and plans in place so that staff can help when need arises. When landslides devastated an area in Badakhshan Province (800km from Herat) in May 2014, AIL was asked to be in charge of relief coming from Herat. Working in conjunction with a local TV station, AIL's Senior Adviser supervised a local fundraising effort which provided aid to survivors. The money raised was used to buy tents, food, medicine, clothes and blankets.
In early June 2014, a flood killed more than 80 people in Baghlan and destroyed thousands homes displacing families. AIL was able to provide relief help for these people too. July 2010, Pakistan was hit with extreme flooding. AIL’s Pakistan office was able to put in place the logistics necessary to distribute cooked food, bread, water coolers and plastic buckets to 500 families (approximately 3,500 individuals) at a camp located about 170km from Peshawar.In October 2010, as winter was approaching, AIL’s Pakistan office delivered blankets and floor coverings to 250 Afghan families in the very poor village near Peshawar.
In late winter 2010, many families in areas surrounding Herat were seriously affected by flooding. AIL’s Herat office purchased food items such as peas, beans, tea, sugar, and cooking oil to distribute to needy families. This assistance was coordinated with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs Department. A list was made of the 300 families most in need (1,800 people) and food distribution continued through the winter and into early 2011.
In early June 2014, a flood killed more than 80 people in Baghlan and destroyed thousands homes displacing families. AIL was able to provide relief help for these people too. July 2010, Pakistan was hit with extreme flooding. AIL’s Pakistan office was able to put in place the logistics necessary to distribute cooked food, bread, water coolers and plastic buckets to 500 families (approximately 3,500 individuals) at a camp located about 170km from Peshawar.In October 2010, as winter was approaching, AIL’s Pakistan office delivered blankets and floor coverings to 250 Afghan families in the very poor village near Peshawar.
In late winter 2010, many families in areas surrounding Herat were seriously affected by flooding. AIL’s Herat office purchased food items such as peas, beans, tea, sugar, and cooking oil to distribute to needy families. This assistance was coordinated with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs Department. A list was made of the 300 families most in need (1,800 people) and food distribution continued through the winter and into early 2011.
