Thousands of people have recently been evacuated from Afghanistan. Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and MENA regions have been preparing and responding with essential humanitarian assistance for the evacuees. Staff and volunteers are catering to their specific needs, such as shelter, clothes, water, hygiene, protection services and health care services, including mental health and psychosocial support.
The PS Centre has curated resources on our website, which we hope will be useful for National Societies and Movement partners supporting Afghans. It is also possible to search for Dari and Pashto translations in our Resource Library. This web page is a work in progress and it is constantly being updated. If any National Society or Movement partner has resources that they think are valuable to include in this section, please e-mail them to Barbara Levin and cc Sarah Harrison.
Additionally, the PS Centre is looking to create an internal working group for National Societies providing MHPSS services for Afghans outside of Afghanistan. The group would be open, informal and involve staff and volunteers working on MHPSS issues, including synergies with Restoring Family Links and protection staff/ units, given the family tracing efforts underway by many National Societies. The informal WG would be a cross-regional space to share resources, translated material, provide peer-support and also be a place for discussions on approaches/ challenges and/ or have calls where relevant.
Please contact Sarah Harrison if you would like to be part of this informal WG, and please forward this e-mail to relevant colleagues too.
I am always impressed by our volunteers’ willingness to rapidly respond to the needs of migrants, and to do so with empathy, kindness and practical support. They are a true demonstration of humanity in action. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is supporting and coordinating National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ activities for Afghans in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions. The activities of the IFRC PS Centre are in support of these broader initiatives by the National Societies and the IFRC.
Read more about National Societies in Europe who have been actively responding to and supporting the Afghan evacuees
