Dear John, 

Last month, 360 of you came together to help us reach our funding target in support of Afghan women. We are so grateful for the solidarity and generosity shown.  

Sadly, the situation in Afghanistan has taken a dramatic turn.  

I’m sure you’ve seen in the news that a series of devastating earthquakes hit eastern Afghanistan in the last few weeks.  

The UN estimates over 2,200 people have been killed — including hundreds of women and children — and over 5,000 homes were destroyed. But these figures are growing daily.

Entire villages have been flattened, leaving families to survive in fields without shelter, food, or clean water. The villages worst affected are some of the most remote in the country, and many have yet to be reached with support. 

This is not only a natural disaster. It is a humanitarian emergency that has deepened the everyday risks Afghan women and girls already face: violence, child marriage, lack of maternal healthcare, and loss of education. Nearly all schools in the region are mud-brick structures, with the vast majority destroyed or damaged, leaving tens of thousands of children without learning spaces. 

Our women-led partners rushed to the affected areas to see how they could best support. In many cases, landslides have blocked road access. First responders were forced to travel for hours on foot. 

It's essential that women-led organisations are involved in relief efforts to ensure that aid reaches women and girls in need.  

How you can help 

Please consider donating to our earthquake relief appeal so we can fund a women-led emergency response that reaches women and girls in difficult terrain. 100% of funds raised will be sent to partners involved in relief efforts without delay.