Like pretty much everyone else with access to the media, I’ve been watching the appalling events in Afghanistan unfold, both astonished and disgusted. My heart goes out to the Afghan people, utterly betrayed by Western governments. How could we leave them like this? How could we abandon thousands of people who helped us, leave them to a horrible fate at the hands of the Taliban and others? The stories that have appeared in the papers, of journalists, translators, musicians, children and women, are heartbreaking.
In times like this, as individual citizens, it may feel as if we are powerless to help but there are practical things we can do. Local groups in Britain are rallying to support Afghans who have been evacuated to their neighbourhoods and are appealing for donations of clothes, sanitary products etc. This Guardian article provides links including one for Care4Calais, a charity working with refugees arriving in the country, which detail how you can donate goods, money or your time as a volunteer. The British Red Cross is working with Afghan refugees arriving in the UK and is appealing for donations. You might also consider offering a spare room for a few weeks if you have one, via Refugees at Home.
To support those still trapped in Afghanistan, you could donate to any of the international agencies working there, such as Unicef or Save the Children. For information about local Afghan agencies and networks, there is also a Twitter thread here by Sahdya Darr of Open Rights Group which lists ways you can help, including supporting education for girls.
A group of human rights lawyers, international development experts and women's rights activists have set up an advisory group called Action for Afghanistan to help get more people who are at risk out of Afghanistan; they are asking for people to sign their petition and write to their MPs.
If you know of any other ways we can do something to help Afghans, please add it in the comments! This is just what I have been able to pick up so it’s hardly extensive. Thank you!