“The Relief Packages Helped us Stay Warm during Cold Nights of Winter”

The #Dastarkhwan_e_Meli_Program, executed by the #Citizens_Charter_National_Priority_Program of the #Ministry_of_Rural_Rehabilitation_and_Development (MRRD/CCNPP) has been able to provide thousands of deserving households with relief packages encompassing essential food items in a large number of rural communities across Afghanistan. The #Muqar district of #Badghis province is one among many districts where people have been suffering from both Coronavirus pandemic and cold weather over the past few months. Fortunately, a total of 62 communities consisted of more than 11 thousand households in this district have so far received the essential humanitarian assistance under Dastarkhwan-e-Meli Program to satiate their hunger caused by Covid-19 that has led to an increase in unemployment rate in the region. The relief packages distributed through Dastarkhwan-e-Meli Program have colored the tablecloths of many families in this district with different dishes for some time until they can return to their normal life.

#Akhtar_Muhammad, a resident of Muqar district who has been given the relief package, said: “The residents of Muqar district have difficulties with cold weather every year. However, our hurdles have doubled this year as we have been affected by both winter and Coronavirus simultaneously. We would migrate to another district in order to survive cold weather if we were not provided with assistance through Dastarkhwan-e-Meli program by now. At least, the relief packages helped us stay warm during cold nights of winter inside our houses.”

As of January 20, 2021, more than 312 thousand households in 2,410 communities of 114 districts in 34 provinces of Afghanistan have received relief packages totaling more than 1.31 billion Afghanis.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in negative economic impacts on the lives of people, especially the poor & daily wage-earners. The Government of Afghanistan has initiated a relief response program – called Dastarkhwan-e Meli – that would be implemented in cities and villages. Dastakhwan-e Meli program is planned to be implemented in two phases.

The first phase of Dastarkhwan-e-Meli Program worth USD 86 million has already been launched in nearly 13 thousand communities related to 123 districts across all 34 provinces of the country under the coverage of the MRRD/CCNPP. As planned and set out, 1.67 million households in the rural areas will receive relief packages, valued at AFN 4,000 per household.

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