Winter in the rural areas and mountainous villages of Afghanistan is very tough. Forced from their homes by deep snows and cold temperatures, many families have no option, unless to cope and some migrate to other locations or their relative houses for survival, the government does not provide any winter support and the people suffer greatly from malnutrition and hypothermia. Survival from cold is tough, especially for the very young and the very old.

According to UNHCR needs assessment and other visits in related areas it was noted that some returnees and ex-IDPs, who returned in the past and the significant IDP case loads in related areas face problems and experience difficulties in passing the harsh winter without the assistance of international community’s due to lack of proper income in most of the related areas of Ghor and Badghis Provinces.

The objective of the winterization program was enabling the vulnerable people of UNHCR concern having easy access to non-food items and warm clothes during the harsh winter to reduce their suffering during the winter season.

The objectives of the winterization program were assisting vulnerable people of UNHCR concern and protect them against harsh winter cold; to achieve the objective below steps were followed in the implementation: