Bamyan Foundation’s Humanitarian Aid for the Hazara victims and the injured due to the ISIS attack on Imam-e-Zaman Mosque in Baghlan, Afghanistan:

Soon after the deadly ISIS attack on a Shia Hazara mosque in Puli Khumri, Baghlan, Afghanistan – Bamyan Foundation launched a fundraiser to help the victims and survivors of this brutal attack. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and the matching by our partner, Global Giving, The Foundation sent an amount of $7,122 to address this emergency situation. Our Baghlan team distributed the funds as follows:

In the first round:

  • 100,000 AFN for 20 families of those who lost their lives in the attack (5000 AFN per family).

  • 130,000 AFN for 21 families of the injured, who needed medical attention (6,000 AFN per family)

  • 60,000 AFN for one of the victims with severe burns, broken legs and arms and loss of eye sight who was moved to a hospital in the neighboring Kunduz province.

In the second round:

Our team distributed food packages for 53 families who were in need of basic sustenance. The food distribution amounted to 173,720 AFN, whereby each package included:

  • A container of flour: 1460 AFN

  • 10 liter cooking oil: 840 AFN

  • A container of rice, 10 kg: 940 AFN

  • Transportation cost: 2000 AFN  

This emergency initiative also incurred an overhead cost of about 28,000 AFN

It is important to know that Hazaras are the majority racial group in the city of Puli-Khumri, in Baghlan province of Afghanistan. They comprise Shia, Sunni and Ismaili Hazaras. Shia Hazaras are more vulnerable to attacks by the Islamic State (IS) as the IS considers Shias heretics. The Shia Hazaras are also significantly poorer in this city compared to other groups. In light of this dynamics, our local team decided to distribute cash to families of the victims and the injured, and distribute food packages to other families facing severe hardships. The cash assistance was lifesaving for the wounded, and a small act of kindness to the victims’ families in this difficult time.

Once again, we are endlessly grateful to our supporters & partners, the community leaders and our local team on the ground who work on volunteer basis and risk their lives to get help to the Hazara families who have suffered devastating loss due to ISIS attacks.