People in Parwan and Kapisa have been constantly on the move for the past several years, says Mohammed Alem, CARE field supervisor. Fighting forced people from their homes for several days or weeks at a time, and they lost livestock and crops like wheat, barley and corn. They were no longer able to earn a living.

CARE went house to house in these districts, identifying the people most in need of assistance: the disabled and elderly, as well as families headed by women who are struggling to survive.

The distribution covers three districts in each province: Bagram, Sayedkhal and Charikar in Parwan, and Kohistan I and II and Mahmood Raqi in Kapisa. Nearly half a million people used to live in these areas.

The houses in these districts suffered damage but were not destroyed, adds Alem. CARE’s assistance is helping to make it more livable for people here during the worst of the winter.

A ration provides enough food for a family of six for 90 days. Each family receives 100 kg (220 lbs.) of flour, 10 kg (22 lbs.) of sugar, 15 kg (33 lbs.) of cooking oil and 35 kg (77 lbs.) of beans. CARE also is equipping families for winter with three quilts, two shawls, one tarp, one container for water, one bucket, one bar of soap for bathing and another for washing clothes.