Kabul, Afghanistan — DACAAR (Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees) is pleased to announce the successful completion of a 14-month (01 May 2023 up to 30 June 2024) Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) project in Afghanistan. The project has been generously funded by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO). The title of the project was “Humanitarian WASH Efforts in Newly Opened and Underserved Communities in Afghanistan" and received funding totaling €7.458.000,00 million.

The aim was to provide immediate and life-saving WASH assistance to 820,234 beneficiaries, while 640,870 people were unique beneficiaries, including vulnerable populations such as women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The project has significantly improved living conditions in some of the most underserved communities in Afghanistan by ensuring access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

Response to the Herat Earthquake and Refugee Crisis

In October 2023, a series of devastating earthquakes struck Herat, affecting 1.8 million Afghans, and causing severe destruction and loss of life. Thanks to DACAAR’s presence in Herat the organization was able to respond immediately, with permission from ECHO, delivering critical WASH services to those in need.

Simultaneously, the Pakistani government’s decision to repatriate undocumented Afghan refugees by the end of October 2023 prompted a mass exodus. Afghan refugees began returning to their homeland, carrying their belongings through the Torkham zero-point border crossing. DACAAR provided essential water and sanitation services to these returnees in settlements and their places of origin, including Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces, where the organization constructed and rehabilitated water systems to meet the growing needs.

This project has played an important role in alleviating the hardships faced by Afghans in crisis, ensuring that basic human needs are met even in the most challenging circumstances. DACAAR remains committed to supporting the Afghan people and enhancing their resilience through sustainable WASH initiatives.

Torkham border, Afghan returnees

For more information about ECHO and its tireless efforts in funding humanitarian aid, please visit their website at http://ec.europa.eu/echo/.

About DACAAR: DACAAR (Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees) is a non-governmental organization working tirelessly to provide life-saving assistance and support to vulnerable populations in Afghanistan. With a strong focus on WASH initiatives, DACAAR strives to improve living conditions and foster resilience among those affected by conflict, natural disasters, epidemic situations of disease outbreaks.