Emergency Cooked Meal Distribution to 15000 Afghan Returnees from Iran

Project Overview:

The Ehsas Welfare and Social Services Organization (EWSSO), with the generous support of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Türkiye, successfully implemented a vital humanitarian initiative to support vulnerable Afghan returnees from Iran.

Through this project, 15,000 cooked meals were distributed to families who had recently returned and were severely affected by recent floods, facing hunger and lack of basic necessities. The initiative aimed to alleviate the immediate effects of hunger, ensure access to nutritious food, and promote the well-being of vulnerable families in critical need.

The project was carried out in Herat Province, Afghanistan, where thousands of returnee families received timely food assistance that helped them overcome immediate hardships and restore hope during a challenging period.

Achievements:

• Direct Impact: Successfully distributed 15,000 cooked meals to flood-affected Afghan returnees in Herat Province, ensuring that thousands of vulnerable people received timely food assistance.
• Community Support: Fostered a strong sense of solidarity and community support, reinforcing the importance of standing together and aiding those in dire need during challenging times.
• Operational Efficiency: Despite significant obstacles, the EWSSO team effectively managed and completed the project within the planned scope, demonstrating commitment, resilience, and efficient coordination.

Challenges:

• Returnee Influx: The sudden and large-scale return of Afghan migrants from Iran created urgent humanitarian needs, putting immense pressure on local resources and requiring immediate response from our team.
• Governmental Delays: Registering the project with government authorities took longer than expected. Although the project was approved earlier, its implementation was delayed due to lengthy administrative procedures.
• Government Interference: Continuous interference from certain local authorities in our internal operations complicated the smooth execution of the project and created additional administrative burdens.

In short, despite these challenges, the successful distribution of cooked meals highlights the resilience and dedication of the EWSSO team. The support from IHH was instrumental in making this project a success. Moving forward, we aim to streamline our processes, strengthen our coordination with governmental bodies, and continue to provide essential aid to returnee families. Our achievements in this project underscore our commitment to helping the Afghan people during times of crisis, and we will continue working to alleviate their suffering and improve their quality of life.

Project Outcomes

The Ehsas Welfare and Social Services Organization (EWSSO) successfully distributed 15,000 cooked meals to Afghan returnee families in Herat Province. The meals included a variety of essential food items, providing immediate nutritional support to vulnerable households.

This initiative:

• Ensured timely access to nutritious meals for thousands of returnee families.
• Reduced hunger and food insecurity among the most vulnerable populations.
• Alleviated economic stress by enabling families to allocate limited resources to other essential needs, such as healthcare, education, and shelter.
• Strengthened community solidarity, as local volunteers actively participated in distribution, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and support.

The successful outcomes of this project demonstrate EWSSO’s capacity to deliver effective humanitarian assistance and the tangible benefits of donor support from IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Türkiye.