HealthNet TPO aims to provide 2,000 dignity kits to women and girls affected by the devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan. Each kit costs €55 and is distributed by our mobile health and psychosocial support teams, alongside access to medical care, maternal health services, and counselling.
By supporting this initiative, you are helping women and girls manage menstruation safely, reduce the risk of infection, move in public with dignity, and feel secure in their daily lives. For mothers, the kits provide crucial support for hygiene during and after pregnancy. You are giving them more than essential supplies — you are giving them the possibility to regain control of their daily lives after disaster.
Why dignity matters now
On 31 August, a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring thousands. Entire villages in Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar, and Nuristan were reduced to rubble. Families who survived are now living in tents, makeshift shelters, or out in the open, cut off from essential services.
HealthNet TPO teams were among the first to respond. Our health facilities treated hundreds of injured people in the first hours, while mobile medical teams reached remote communities cut off by landslides. But beyond the urgent medical needs, one reality is becoming increasingly clear: women and girls are facing unique and overlooked challenges that threaten their health, safety, and dignity.
Women and girls face disproportionate impact
Research from past natural disasters shows that women and girls often face the greatest challenges in the aftermath of emergencies. The earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has destroyed homes and damaged sanitation facilities, leaving many families in temporary shelters where privacy and hygiene are difficult to maintain.
For women and girls, this creates multiple layers of risk. Toilets and washing facilities are damaged or non-existent, making it extremely difficult to stay clean or safe. Pregnant women have lost access to antenatal care and clean delivery supplies, while postpartum hygiene is severely compromised. Poor hygiene conditions increase the risk of infections, particularly urogenital and skin-related, and limited access to clean water and soap further heightens the danger of disease.
The psychological toll is also significant. The loss of privacy and the inability to meet basic hygiene needs can intensify feelings of trauma, shame, and isolation, making an already devastating situation even harder to endure. Meeting these urgent needs is vital to reducing health risks, protecting women and girls from further harm, and helping them maintain self-respect in their daily lives.
How dignity kits make a difference
To restore dignity, safety, and health, HealthNet TPO is distributing dignity kits to women and girls in the affected region. Each kit is tailored to local needs and cultural context, containing essential items such as:
- Shampoo, towels, soap, and washing powder
- Disposable menstrual pads and underwear
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, and hairbrush
- Scarf, socks, and a blanket
- Solar torch and batteries to increase safety at night
- Petroleum jelly, hand sanitiser, and nail clippers
These kits do more than meet physical needs. They help women and girls stay healthy, maintain privacy, and carry themselves with dignity even in the most difficult circumstances.
You can help today
Your support ensures that women and girls are not left behind in times of crisis. Together, we can provide 2,000 dignity kits — a lifeline of safety, health, and respect.
Donate now: €55 provides one dignity kit.