Balkh, Afghanistan – “I am grateful for this kit, it has all the basic things I need but could not afford, especially now after losing my husband,” said Zuleyha, wiping tears from her face as she received a ‘Dignity Kit’ at a psychosocial support center in Shortepa District.
These kits, distributed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) together with our partners, contain essential items to help women and girls preserve their dignity and hygiene in emergency situations. It includes menstrual hygiene products, soap, towels, multipurpose clothing, and other basic necessities.
For Zuleyha, now a single mother raising two young children on her own, this kit is more than just a collection of items—it’s a lifeline. Like many women affected by crises and displacement in Afghanistan, she struggles to meet basic needs. The kit not only provides essential hygiene items but also allows her to redirect her limited financial resources toward other urgent needs.
To meet the urgent demand for these supplies and deliver them quickly and safely, UNFPA Afghanistan has established an efficient supply chain system through the Termez Cargo Center (TCC) in Uzbekistan. This hub, developed in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan and in coordination with UNFPA Uzbekistan, now serves as the main logistics route for transporting humanitarian supplies into Afghanistan.
The hub provides a more secure, reliable, and cost-effective alternative to previous supply routes, which were often plagued by delays, rising expenses, and security concerns. Thanks to its location—just under two kilometers from the Afghanistan-Uzbekistan border—the center significantly improves delivery speed and flexibility and is equipped with extensive logistics infrastructure, including storage facilities with appropriate climate control to protect sensitive medical supplies.
In a major step forward, UNFPA Afghanistan and WFP Afghanistan formalized a logistics partnership in November 2024. Since then, the TCC has received 27 containers carrying over $2.45 million worth of supplies within three months, including Dignity Kits, as well as other lifesaving items like Mama and Baby Kits, Midwifery Kits, and Inter-Agency Reproductive Health Kits.
Looking ahead, an additional 40 containers valued at $5.4 million are scheduled to arrive in Afghanistan, thanks to the support of international donors.
For women facing the daily challenges of life in conflict-affected regions of Afghanistan, these kits offer more than physical supplies—they provide a sense of security, dignity, and care.
“I came to this psychosocial support centre hoping for some help, as I have not been feeling well and have been grieving (the death of my husband). I am relieved and grateful that I received counselling and the Dignity Kit. These would be helpful for me and my children,” Zuleyha shared.
Through the continued operation of the TCC and partnerships with international donors, UNFPA remains committed to delivering lifesaving supplies where they are needed most—helping Afghan women and girls survive, recover, and rebuild with dignity.
UNFPA Asia and the Pacific supports in delivering timely, high-quality, and inclusive emergency interventions to safeguard reproductive health and ensure protection throughout all phases of a crisis—before, during, and after. Working in close collaboration with governments, civil society, and partner organizations, UNFPA helps strengthen institutional and community capacity in the Asia-Pacific region, while championing the importance of sexual and reproductive health and protection. We also prioritize the rapid delivery of life-saving supplies and services to populations in need, ensuring that critical care remains within reach for those affected.
