Ways to send financial aid to Afghanistan?

December 22, 2021 7:54 AM

My mother, serial charitable giver, asked me last night if I knew the best way to get money to Afghanistan to "help the starving children." I told her I knew some people who could give me some reputable organizations/charities to look into.

That's you. You're the people I know.

She's looking for a place where she can send a few bucks a month that will definitely get that aid to Afghanistan and ideally feed families. My default would be UNICEF but I'd like to know if there is a better option.

Thank you!

posted by kimberussell to Society & Culture (7 answers total)

Charity Navigator has a list. CN is a non-profit that tracks and rates how reputable/efficient/transparent various charities are. Many/most of the ones on this list are not rated yet, but it can be a jumping off point.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:01 AM on December 22, 2021

It's not specifically providing food, but Doctors Without Borders continues to provide health care in Afghanistan, including maternal and neonatal care. (DWB has an excellent reputation. It was awarded the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize.)
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 8:31 AM on December 22, 2021 [4 favorites]

Too Young to Wed is providing support to families in Afghanistan so that they don't have to sell their daughters into marriage because they're starving. I learned about them from CNN - they were the organization that rescued a nine-year-old girl whose parents sold her. They are also helping people at high risk leave the country, so I don't know if that is exactly what your mother wants.
posted by FencingGal at 8:45 AM on December 22, 2021 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Would any of these work? (I only know about them as a donor and from news coverage, but all are registered charities and file annual reports.) Aryana Aid. War Child. Save the Children, Afghanistan Crisis Appeal.
posted by paduasoy at 9:24 AM on December 22, 2021

Emergency, if she would like to help a hospital.
posted by thegirlwiththehat at 10:39 AM on December 22, 2021

I heard a documentary on the radio where they said that right now, it is almost impossible for NGOs to get cash into Afghanistan. So I would go with a big organisation with an excellent reputation, they are probably the most qualified to deal with this. Doctors Without Borders are very serious and have a relatively low overhead, compared to other internationals. International Red Cross have a higher overhead and are sometimes a bit bureaucratic, but because they are the most respected international rescue organisation, they seem to be able to persuade politicians to let them move money and goods across the border to some extent.
posted by mumimor at 11:18 AM on December 22, 2021 [3 favorites]

There's also the UN HCR (the UN's refugee assistance organization).
posted by kristi at 7:36 PM on December 22, 2021 [1 favorite]