3 September 2021
New Zealand’s aid charities are supporting their local partners working on the ground in Afghanistan, so people can
still access food, find safe shelter and get the help they need.
At the same time the New Zealand government must play its part;At least double aid to Afghanistan to support local organisationsIncrease humanitarian aid for surrounding countries taking in refugees nowWelcome at least 1000- 1500 Afghan refugees in this year’s current refugee intake, over and above the current Refugee
Resettlement Quota, for those at most immediate riskExpedite visa processing of both Refugee Family Support Category Visa and Critical Purpose Visas for those with a
connection to New ZealandSupport the reunification of families.
“We have a strong Afghan community of about 6000 people here already. These are Afghan New Zealanders who are standing
by to support the integration of refugees now,” says Council for International Development’s (CID) Director, Josie
Pagani.
“Communities across New Zealand will step up again - just as they did to offer homes to 750 Syrian families fleeing
civil war in 2015.”
The Community Sponsorship Programme, introduced at the time had widespread support because it allowed community
organisations, church groups, and local governments to privately sponsor Syrian families, in addition to the official
quota of refugees.
Last year New Zealand’s refugee quota increased from 1000 to 1500, although with closed borders this cap has not been
reached. More than 18 million people in Afghanistan are now dependent on aid. 600,000 people have fled their homes in
the last few weeks.
The CID website has a list of New Zealand charities supporting local Afghan organisations now.Hagar New Zealand Afghanistan AppealUNICEF Afghanistan AppealChristian World Service Afghanistan AppealTear Fund Afghanistan & Haiti Emergency AppealCaritas Aotearoa New Zealand Haiti & Afghanistan AppealWorld Vision New Zealand Afghanistan AppealUN Women Aotearoa New Zealand Afghanistan AppealAmnesty Afghanistan petition calling for safe passage out of Afghanistan for those at riskOxfam Aotearoa Afghanistan petition calling for widening support and to expedite visas
All charities listed are CID members, and signatories to the CID Code of Conduct which means you can trust in the
accountability processes of these aid organisations to get funds to where they are most needed.