Karim* (42) lives with his family in a remote village in northern Afghanistan. He has nine children. His village consists of 130 households who make their living by working on farmlands. However, due to the prolonged droughts in the last three years, the livelihood condition of these households has severely deteriorated, and most of them have limited access to food.

Karim* is a farmer whose living area has been hit by the last three years of severe drought. He earns 4.22 USD a day, which cannot fulfil the basic needs of his family. He wants his children to attend school but is unable to provide their school supplies due to poverty. Therefore, his elder son, Mahdi* (14), cannot attend the

classes regularly. After an assessment, Save the Children identified the family as eligible for Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance MPCA) to help them meet their pressing needs. Karim’s* family was supported with cash assistance of 23060 AFNs (329.99 USD) in two rounds. He spent this money to purchase food and fuel. As the freezing winter approaches, this food provided to his family with Save the Children cash is running out. Karim* is concerned that he will not be able to bring food to the table with no work opportunities this winter.

He said:

 “Save the Children assisted us with cash. I spent it to purchase some food (flour, oil, rice, and fuelwood and sheep dung) and pay off some of my debts from shopkeepers. This food and fuel were enough to fulfill my family’s needs for three months. This assistance was like a miracle in our life, and we all were very happy about it.”

I really want my children to go to school and study, become educated in the future, and serve their community. But I can hardly find work for myself. S

With funding support from the Japan Platform Fund (JPF), Save the Children has supported families in Karim’s* village with Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) totalling 23060 Afghanis ($329.99) in two rounds to support them in meeting their basic needs.

Says Karim*:

“I am the sole breadwinner of my family. I earn 300 Afghanis (4.26$) daily by harvesting and preparing farmlands, but there is no work opportunity for me in winter.”

“When there was no drought, I could earn good money in spring and summer by working on other people’s farmlands.”

“I send two of my sons, thirteen and ten years old, to a boarding Madrasa [religious Studies School] in the city, where they stay there full-time to learn, and this Madrasa provides students with food and stationery (notebook, book, pen, and school bag).”

“I want my children to go to school and study, become educated in the future, and serve their community. But I can hardly find work for myself. Sometimes, I cannot provide their school needs (notebook, school bag, clothes, shoes) and send them to School.”

“Before receiving cash from Save the Children, I borrowed money from shops. Some shopkeepers lent me, and some did not.”

This assistance was like a miracle in our life, and we all were very happy about it.”

“The food and fuel I bought with the money I received from Save the Children are running out. I know when it is finished, I will not be able to provide food for my family, nor will anyone lend me money since they know I do not have any work”.