Assistance within Afghanistan
ActionAid
http://www.actionaid.org/afghanistan/
ActionAid has worked in Afghanistan since 2002. Its current work focuses on education, governance, food rights, HIV and Aids, peacebuilding and women’s rights. Its strategies revolve around grass roots community mobilization and local capacity building, research and with networking and international advocacy. ActionAid participates in the National Solidarity Programme and the National Emergency Employment Programme.
Afghanaid
http://www.afghanaid.org.uk/
Established in 1983 in the U.K, Afghanaid currently works in 4 provinces of Afghanistan with over 500,000 adults and children. It employs 450 mostly Afghan staff, and its work focuses on sustainable rural development strategies, including community development, vocation training, mother and child health projects, microfinance, infrastructure rehabilitation.
Afghan Development Association
http://www.pcpafg.org/Organizations/ADA/
Established in 1990, ADA is an Afghan-managed NGO implementing reconstruction and development programmes in Afghanistan, focusing on agriculture, construction, and education and training programs. It currently works in 52 districts inside Afghanistan, and ADA employs about 450 Afghans.
Afghan Red Crescent Society
http://www.ifrc.org/cgi/pdf_profile.pl?afprofile.pdf
A national NGO established in 1934, the Afghan Red Crescent is fully financially dependent on International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and the ICRC for core structure and activities. It has active branches in 31 out of the 32 provinces of Afghanistan, 1200 staff members and 10,000 volunteers throughout the country, supported by approximately 20 international delegates from the IFRC. Its programs focus on disaster response preparedness and basic and mother-child health care.
Afghanistan Relief Organization
http://www.afghanrelief.com/
ARO is a purely volunteer organization based in the U.S. that has worked in Afghanistan since 1998. It delivers relief (food, medicine, hygiene supplies, school supplies and winter blankets and clothing) directly to the needy. It also offers general education programs designed to encourage self sufficiency at the ARO Technology Education Center (TEC) in Kabul, where it employs Afghan staff.
Agha Khan Development Network (AKDN)
http://www.akdn.org/news/AKDN_Afghanistan_010406.pdf
Active in Afghanistan since 1995 providing emergency relief, AKDN’s programs now encompass large scale rural development, health, education and civil society programmes, the provision of a range of microfinance services, the safeguarding of historic landscapes and neighbourhoods in Kabul and Heart, a mobile phone network, and the renovation of a 5 star hotel in Kabul.
Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan
https://cw4wafghan.ca/
Canadians taking action, in partnership with Afghan women, toward improving conditions of human rights, ending women’s oppression, and providing opportunities for Afghan women to live their lives with dignity, certainty and purpose.
Care International
http://www.care.org/newsroom/specialreports/afghanistan/index.asp
Care has worked in Afghanistan since 1961. It has 900 staff members (99% of them Afghan), and works in the central, southern and south-eastern regions with focus on education, water and sanitation, food to war widows, income generation and skills training for vulnerable groups and demobilized soldiers.
Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR)
http://www.dacaar.org/dacaar.asp?id=118
Since 1984, DACAAR has worked towards sustainable livelihoods for rural Afghans, including support to refugees and returnees, with a focus on rural development initiatives and water and sanitation projects. Its work covers 25 out of the 34 provinces in Afghanistan. It employs 950 Afghans and 20-25 foreign development workers and consultants.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
http://www.icrc.org/eng/afghanistan
ICRC has been present in Afghanistan since 1986 and employs 1200 staff, including 61 expatriates. Its priority is to protect the welfare of detainees, but ICRC also runs assistance programmes focussing on health care, water and sanitation, support to mine victims, and teaching international humanitarian law for Afghan security forces.
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
http://www.theirc.org/where/the_irc_in_afghanistan.html
The IRC has worked since 1980 aiding Afghans, and currently supports major programs in protection, reintegration of returnees and emergency infrastructure support (shelter/water and sanitation), vocational training, education, child protection, health, security, capacity building and community development.
Islamic Relief USA
https://irusa.org/asia/afghanistan/
Islamic Relief USA has provided humanitarian services in Afghanistan for 20 years. The organiztaion provides urgent food, water, and healthcare services.
Islamic Relief Worldwide
http://www.islamic-relief.com/
Islamic Relief (IR) has worked in Afghanistan since 1992, responding to natural disasters, emergencies, and running development projects such as water, sanitation, and micro-credit schemes. Current activities include work in: Food security, including partnership projects with UN WFP; Drought Alleviation; Health; Education; Water & Sanitation; Sustainable Livelihoods; and building basic community infrastructure such as a health clinic outside Kabul to serve 40,000 people, and income generation projects such as the Kandahar women’s bakery and programs for street children in Kabul.
Relief International
https://www.ri.org/countries/afghanistan/
Relief International began working in Afghanistan in 2001, with a focus on reconstructing schools and training midwives. Since then, we’ve expanded our programming to include healthcare, climate change mitigation, agricultural development, natural disaster response, women’s empowerment, domestic and gender-based violence prevention, water supply and sanitation, enterprise development, shelter and reconstruction, and civic skills trainings.
UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency)
https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/
Helping refugees flee to bordering nations.
UNICEF
https://www.unicef.org/afghanistan/
UNICEF works to promote and protect the rights of children and women in Afghanistan. With over 65 years of service, we are one of the longest-serving international organizations in the country.
Women for Afghan Women
https://womenforafghanwomen.org/afghanistan/
Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is the largest women’s organization in Afghanistan, with over 850 local Afghan staff working tirelessly to provide support services to women, children, and families.
Women for Women International
https://www.womenforwomen.org/
Women for Women International works at the critical intersection of women and conflict providing skills, knowledge, and resources that create sustainable change for women, their families, and their communities.
Visa Programs & Assistance
Canada’s Visa Program for Afghans
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/afghanistan/how.html#family
Please note that as of the date this was written, the website above has not yet been updated to include the expanded eligibility requirements; more information about the expanded eligibility can be found in this article:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2021/08/canada-expands-resettlement-program-to-bring-more-afghans-to-safety.html
U.S. State Department: Special immigration visas for Afghans
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/special-immg-visa-afghans-employed-us-gov.html
Center for Governance and Markets at the University of Pittsburgh
https://twitter.com/CGMPitt (Twitter feed with frequently updated information)
Aiding Afghans who worked for U.S. organizations apply for special immigration visas (SIVs)
Afghan Assistance Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6_89mTgnRwBlabXH9UVnrJFJNU5KEIEEsanuBWXyTT6YHOw/viewform
Email: cgm@pitt.edu
Iran Visa Application
https://evisa.mfa.ir/en/
Pakistan Visa Application
http://www.pakembassykabul.org/en/consular-services/visa-application/
Tajikistan Visa Application
https://www.visa.gov.tj/index.html
Uzbekistan Tourist Visa Application for Afghan Citizens
https://globalconnect.uz/uzbekistan-visa-for-afghan-citizens
This link goes to the Global Connect (tour operator) web page for tourist visas.
Uzbekistan Visa Application
https://e-visa.gov.uz/main
Refugee or Asylum Assistance Outside the Country
Afghan Diaspora for Equality & Progress
https://adeprogress.org/
Mobilizing legal experts and resources to help Afghans seek immigration and asylum
Document with requirements and pathways for Afghans to relocate to the U.S., Canada, or U.K.
Twitter Feed: https://twitter.com/AfgDiasporaEP
International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
https://refugeerights.org/
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) organizes law students and lawyers to develop and enforce a set of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced persons. Mobilizing direct legal aid, litigation, and systemic advocacy, IRAP serves the world’s most persecuted individuals and empowers the next generation of human rights leaders.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
https://lirsconnect.org/get_involved/action_center/siv
To help Afghans once they arrive in the U.S. (airport pickup, apartment setup, etc.)
Denver Immigrant Legal Services Fund
https://denverfoundation.org/denver-immigrant-legal-services-fund/
Helps refugees and other immigrants clear legal hurdles and get family members into the country.
Legal/Immigration Assistance & Other Resources
https://afghanistanmatters.carrd.co/
Nonprofit Legal Services Providers – by Zip Code
https://www.immigrationlawhelp.org/
Canadian Refugee Programs
https://issbc.org/our-resource/canadas-afghan-refugee-resettlement-program
https://www.lifelineafghanistan.ca/
https://www.rstp.ca/en/refugee-sponsorship/the-private-sponsorship-of-refugees-program/
https://afghanwomen.org/settlement-services/refugee-services/
https://www.mosaicbc.org/services/settlement/refugees/support-afghan-refugees/
https://www.aaocanada.ca/
Complete list of all sponsorship agreement holders – organizations that are permitted by the Government of Canada to assist with the private sponsorship of refugees
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/help-outside-canada/private-sponsorship-program/agreement-holders/holders-list.html
Rapid Assistance for Activists
Front Line Defenders
https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/emergency-contact
Front Line Defenders is a Dublin-based organization that provides rapid and practical support to human rights defenders, including emergency support for those in immediate danger. Front Line Defender operates a 24-hour phone line for human rights defenders in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Urgent Action Fund
https://urgentactionfund.org/
Urgent Action Fund operates a Rapid Response Grantmaking program that supports women’s rights activists and helps protect activists who are in immediate danger. Activists may apply in any language, on any day of the year and are guaranteed a response within 72 hours.
Tips for Safety within the Country
How to Delete Your Digital History (Human Rights First)
https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/resource/how-delete-your-digital-history-0
This guide from Human Rights First helps you erase your digital history on accounts such as email, social media, and chat applications. Downloads are available in Dari and English.