Widespread panic has erupted across Afghanistan since the Taliban entered the capital on Sunday.
The extreme Islamic group seized the presidential palace after the Government in Afghanistan collapsed last weekend.
People are now gravely concerned for their safety and fear for their lives as the military group takes over for the first time in almost 20 years.
If like us, you've been watching the turmoil unfold on the news but aren't sure how to help, these are some things you can do to support the people of Afghanistan, especially children.
1 Donate
UNICEF
According to
UNICEF, Afghanistan is one of the most dangerous people for children to be. Half of the population of Afghanistan needs humanitarian assistance. Children don't have access to clean water food, education, sanitary products and are even suffering from severe malnutrition.
By donating to UNICEF you can help them get the support they desperately need. A €50 donation will supply safe drinking water to protect 5 children for an entire month.
€100 could provide essential medicines to treat 12 sick and injured children, saving their lives.
Sanitary Products for Displaced Afghan Women and Girls
It is believed over 290,000 Afghans have been displaced inside Afghanistan since January.
Families who have fled Kabul are now left without their belongings, including essential items like sanitary products and nappies.
A fundraiser has been set up to send sanitary pads and baby diapers to women and children affected by the recent events in Afghanistan. You can donate
here.
Support to Families Displaced by Taliban Violence
The number of displaced families has grown substantially since the Taliban seized the presidential palace on Sunday. Thousands of families are now without basic necessities and need our help.
A fundraiser has been launched to support them. "With the help of my cousin who is a doctor working in the front lines in Kandahar, I’ve begun to raise some funds to send back to help these vulnerable families. The money will be used to provide food and direct monetary support for these displaced families. No amount is too small, and anything helps.
Donate
here.
Visions for Children
It is believed 18 million Afghans are in need of urgent assistance. 70% of those are women and children.
Visions for Children's colleagues in Kabul will provide people with the very basics as quickly as possible. An inventory will be conducted to determine the needs and to ensure that donations reach where they are most urgently needed.
Donate
here.
2. Write to the Taoiseach
12 Irish organisations in Ireland have put together a letter calling on Micheál Martin and members of government to lead the response to the Afghanistan crisis. Among other things, the letter urges the Irish government to help resettle more Afghan refugees, to increase the number of humanitarian admission visas and to help ensure that the Afghan people have access to the international protection process in Ireland. You download the letter
here.
3. Sign a petition
As well as calling on our own government to take action, there are several global petitions you can add your name to. Amnesty International, for instance, have a live petition calling for the protection of Afghanistan's human rights defenders, and that is available to sign
here.
You can also add your name to
this petition, which calls to raise awareness of the mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Iran.
