ICRC expands support for Afghan women and girls

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is expanding support for women and girls across Afghanistan through healthcare, cash assistance, vocational training and economic empowerment programs.

In a report titled “Afghanistan: Supporting Women and Girls to Thrive Despite Challenges,” the organization highlighted efforts to improve maternal health, combat malnutrition and create economic opportunities for vulnerable women.

In partnership with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), the ICRC provides six months of cash assistance and nutrition guidance to pregnant and breastfeeding women. The program reached 1,400 women across four provinces in 2026.

The organization also supports 47 ARCS healthcare centers, which provided more than 800,000 outpatient consultations for women between June 2025 and July 2026. Services included more than 980 deliveries, 111,000 antenatal consultations and 39,000 postnatal consultations.

Economic empowerment is another focus, with 437 women and girls with disabilities receiving vocational training and 101 benefiting from interest-free loans during the same period. More than 33,800 also received physiotherapy, while over 12,600 benefited from prosthetic and mobility devices.

Additional programs include financial assistance for female-headed households, emergency medical training for female healthcare workers and awareness campaigns on explosive hazards, which have reached around 260,000 women and girls.

The ICRC says its initiatives aim to help women and girls access essential services, strengthen their independence and build more secure futures despite ongoing challenges.