📎 I recently visited our IRC-supported health clinics in Afghanistan. What I saw was heartbreaking.
Hi John,
In case you missed my email yesterday, I'm Kellie Ryan. I work on the IRC's global communications team, focusing on Afghanistan and several other crisis areas.
I'm reaching out because the hunger crisis in Afghanistan is staggering. 9 million people are on the brink of famine, and one million children could die without immediate assistance.
When I visited some of our IRC-supported health clinics in Afghanistan just a few weeks ago (photos enclosed below), I found them full of mothers bringing malnourished children in for emergency treatment. Many clinics are running out of medicine to provide to these sick children. The fear and anguish these mothers felt was heartbreaking to witness.
John, nighttime temperatures in Kabul are now below freezing. Many Afghans living in temporary shelters are spending these brutal nights without warm blankets or winter coats. For people who are already struggling to survive, frigid winter weather could be the difference between life and death.
Our dedicated staff members in Afghanistan are working hard to help families get what they need to survive the winter — but they can't do it without the help of our compassionate IRC community around the world.
This summer's change of government sent shockwaves through Afghanistan. More than 681,000 Afghans this year were displaced in the crisis and millions are now struggling to survive without adequate food, medical care and winter supplies.
Through it all, my incredible IRC colleagues have stayed and delivered humanitarian assistance — as we have done, through crisis after crisis, for over 30 years. And we will stay in Afghanistan for as long as we are needed.
Thank you for your commitment to families facing unimaginable crises. I am confident that we can count on this amazing community to deliver in this exceptional moment of need.
