For many Afghans the events of the last year marked a rolling back of the past twenty years of determination and effort to build their country and the incredible progress they experienced. After August 2021 a climate of fear took over the country as thousands attempted to flee for their lives. Others were forced to go into hiding. Afghanistan has since plunged into another cycle of humanitarian crisis – Almost 23 million people face acute hunger with all parts of Afghanistan facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. The atmosphere in Afghanistan is marked by fear and worry about safety particularly among girls and women whose rights have been heavily restricted. This ongoing human rights abuse will have long term psychological ramifications for those affected.

The past year has seemed like a repeating of history for many and indeed trauma is rarely an individual experience. It is experienced collectively, especially in cases of conflict and subsequent mass displacement, and it is passed on through generations. Young Afghans, and those who have not yet been born, may not remember the events of August 2021 as they grow older but they may still feel the pain of what their parents experienced.

Chronic, toxic stress and the breakdown of protective structures (support networks) make refugees, particularly children, vulnerable to the impacts of trauma, resulting in poor health, economic and life outcomes. In the case of Afghanistan, years of conflict and crisis means that Afghan people are dealing with intergenerational trauma.

Amna’s response to the crisis in Afghanistan aimed to stop the cycle of intergenerational trauma and give Afghan refugees coping tools as they processed their experiences and tried to rebuild their lives. Led by our mission of building community capacity for collective healing, Amna launched its first emergency response and invited applications from NGOs and community organisations across the world who were and would be supporting Afghan refugees who had been newly displaced. Through seed funding, capacity-strengthening, mentorship and tools, Amna would support these organisations who provide psychosocial support to Afghans of every age.

 

I feel safe here but being far from my family still hurts me.

Refugees and asylum seekers experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorders than members of the general population – anyone forced to leave their home, their community and their livelihood behind would feel the impact of their loss – but some of the worst impacts of conflict can be mitigated through small interventions that help new arrivals feel safe again.

Amna is committed to continuing to support the Afghan community in the years to come. Please donate to support our work.