The winter season in Afghanistan typically spans from mid-December to mid-March, with the cold spell peaking in January-February. The temperatures plummeting to as low as -25°C in mountainous areas such as the central highlands, many families are bracing for yet another brutal winter without sufficient winterization support. its economic and health impacts extend well beyond, reaching into March. Limited income-generating opportunities, accumulated debts, and winter-related illnesses continue to strain vulnerable households.
According to the national Shelter Cluster, over 900,000 individuals in high-priority areas are at risk of not receiving essential heating assistance and winter non-food items (NFIs). Vulnerable groups, including women, girls, young children under five, and the elderly, are at heightened risk of pneumonia, starvation, and other health complications.
Among the most at-risk communities are over 18,000 families whose shelters were damaged or destroyed by flash floods and heavy rains in 2024, leaving them without proper insulation or protection against the cold. Additionally, more than 679,500 returnees from Pakistan since September 2023 are living in inadequate and undignified shelter conditions, with only 15% receiving critical support for rent, repairs, or transitional housing due to severe funding constraints.
ACT Alliance member Community World Services Asia (CWSA)is planning to initiate an emergency response to support the most vulnerable people through the RRF mechanism.
