Winterization Projects supported by the German Foreign Office

Enlarge image Winterization Projects in Kabul (© German Embassy Kabul) February has brought snow to many Afghan regions and even the capital of Kabul was painted white. The cold winter months bring along special hardships to the poorest and therefore many families were full of joy about the successful completion of winter relief projects run by NGOs Deutsche Welthungerhilfe and ADRA.

These Foreign Office-funded projects were designed to help the most vulnerable people living in informal camps and settlements. The so-called "Internally Displaced Persons” (IDP) are mostly refugees from very unstable rural areas who are trying to settle in the capital Kabul and other urban centers. Most IDPs live in precarious conditions in makeshift houses in informal settlements. They belong to a very marginalized population group and due to unsettled land and property rights disputes as well as lack of legal protection receive little support.

The distribution of stoves, fuel and materials for weatherproving their huts will considerably improve the livelihoods of people living in informal settlements and reduce their vulnerability towards seasonal extremes during winter.

Enlarge image One of the projects of Welthungerhilfe: Female patients and children are waiting for medicines at a mobile health station in Chamane Babrak settlement. (© German Embassy Kabul) Deutsche Winterhilfe e.V. was able to give assistance to around 1632 families in the settlements of Chamane Babrack, Charai Quambar and the District 8 of Kabul. All activities including basic health services were coordinated with the UNHCR and the Ministry of Refugees and Returnees.

The projects of ADRA eV. were implemented in Balkh province and Kabul. Altogether about 15 610 persons were supported. Among other relief items, plastic sheeting for the roofs of the huts, charcoal and shoes were distributed. In additon, ADRA provided the families with warm blankets tailored by 150 women of the receiving groups within the frame of a“cash for work” programme.

The Foreign Office has supported these winter relief projects with an amount of 530,000.00 EURO.

14.02.2011