Humanitarian office in Kabul opens

The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is among the world's worst. More than four years after the Taliban seized power, over half the population still relies on humanitarian aid. To provide the most effective local support possible, it is vital to have a precise understanding of the situation on the ground and to work closely with local partner organisations.

That is why the SDC opened a humanitarian office in mid-March. Four SHA experts and ten local staff are now working on the premises of the former cooperation office in Kabul. This local presence allows the SDC to adapt its programmes to the situation on the ground and to manage them more thoroughly together with local and international partner organisations. This translates into impactful support for the population.

The priorities of Switzerland's support are humanitarian aid, support for Afghan civil society, particularly for women and girls, and food security in rural areas. The SDC implements its projects in cooperation with international and local NGOs, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UN agencies and the World Bank. The annual budget, including operating and personnel costs, amounts to CHF 25 million.

Humanitarian offices in four countries

The SDC maintains humanitarian offices in countries where there are protracted and severe humanitarian crises, in which SHA staff support and ensure the implementation of humanitarian programmes. Alongside Kabul, the SDC also has humanitarian offices in the Central African Republic (Bangui), Haiti (Port-au-Prince) and Syria (Damascus).
The SDC has cooperation offices in the countries designated as priority countries in its International Cooperation Strategy 2025–28. The work there is focused first and foremost on coordinating and implementing long-term development programmes.

Further information:

FDFA Article

Address for enquiries:

FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher:

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs