Let's Protect Their Dreams: How to Help Children Among Afghan Returnees from Pakistan

Every day at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, a heartbreaking scene unfolds. Families arrive with whatever possessions they can carry, crossing into an uncertain future. Among them are thousands of children—wide-eyed, confused, and often frightened. With over 60% of Afghan refugees being children, they are the youngest and most vulnerable victims of one of the world’s most pressing humanitarian crises.

Food Insecurity Crisis: When a Child’s Worry Becomes Their Next Meal

The most immediate and heartbreaking threat facing Afghan refugee children is hunger. Imagine being seven years old—your biggest concerns should be simple: playing with friends, going to school, wondering what’s for dinner. Now imagine that dinner itself becomes the worry. According to UNICEF, 95% of Afghan refugee families face severe food insecurity, with child malnutrition rates exceeding 40%.

For the thousands of children crossing the border each day—sometimes as many as 5,000—the question of the next meal replaces the innocence of childhood. A child’s worry shouldn’t be about their next meal, yet this is the devastating reality that calls for urgent action from all of us.

Childhood Dreams Persist Despite Refugee Children’s Trauma

And yet, even in the face of deep uncertainty, childhood dreams persist. Among the crowds at a transit center sits Hafsa, a young Afghan girl. When asked about her hobbies, she answers simply: “Playing with my dolls.” Amid displacement and crisis, Hafsa’s mind still holds space for imagination and joy.

Refugee children like Hafsa remind us that trauma doesn’t erase who they are at heart. These are dreamers and learners. After receiving a hygiene kit from Aseel, Hafsa made an unexpected request: notebooks and pens. Even after losing her home and school, she still dreams of learning. Her request reflects a desire for more than survival—it reflects hope.

Mental Health Resilience Among Afghan Refugee Children

This resilience is powerful, yet fragile. Children like Hafsa and Kayhan show remarkable emotional wisdom despite the turmoil around them. Kayhan, another young returnee, offers this message to his peers: “Study and be kind.” Even in the face of trauma, his focus remains on education and compassion—values critical for rebuilding communities and lives.

However, refugee children’s mental health is a growing concern. Anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and PTSD are widespread among displaced children. The long-term psychological impact of Afghan children's trauma can be life-altering without timely, compassionate intervention.

The Three Basic Needs That Refugee Children Have

In order to support this innate resilience and foster recovery, three essential needs must be addressed:

1. Physical Safety and Security: Every child needs shelter, food, and clean water to survive.
2. Emotional Stability and Love: Consistent support from caregivers and a sense of belonging are crucial.
3. Educational Opportunity and Hope: Access to learning provides structure, normalcy, and the belief in a better future.

These pillars reflect what child psychologists and trauma experts have emphasized for decades: that a child's development depends on more than physical survival—it requires nurturing the heart and mind as well.

Afghan Refugee Children’s Trauma and Long-Term Impact

Without stable interventions, trauma becomes deeply embedded in a child's development. Sleep disturbances, behavioral regression, and social withdrawal are common signs. Left untreated, these symptoms often persist into adulthood. The mental health needs of Afghan refugee children must not be an afterthought—they are central to recovery and long-term peacebuilding.

But there is hope. With early, sustained support, children can heal. They can reclaim their stories and reshape their futures.

Educational Materials as Tools for Emotional Recovery

This is where small interventions can lead to profound transformation. When a child receives notebooks, pencils, or school supplies, something shifts. They begin to see themselves not only as survivors but as students—people with potential. For children like Hafsa, educational materials transform trauma into purpose. Writing becomes a form of expression. Learning becomes a lifeline.

This is why Aseel’s Do Good initiative puts education, along with food, hygiene, and shelter, at the core of its response.

How You Can Help Afghan Refugee Children Through Aseel

Now more than ever, Afghan children need support—not just in the form of sympathy, but in meaningful action. Aseel’s Do Good initiative works on the ground in key border and settlement areas to deliver targeted aid to Afghan refugee children, including:

• Emergency food supplies to combat malnutrition
• Hygiene kits for dignity and health
• Educational kits filled with notebooks, pens, and learning materials
• Psychological support to help process trauma

You can be the reason children like Hafsa or Kayhan find hope beyond crisis. Support Afghan refugee children through Aseel’s Do Good campaign—your donation, whether one-time or monthly, delivers life-changing aid directly to those who need it most.

Share their story. Raise your voice. Because preserving their right to childhood isn’t just charity—it’s a stand for their future. Take action now at aseelapp.com/do-good.