Switzerland Reopens Humanitarian Aid Office In Kabul

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has reopened its international cooperation office in Kabul to provide humanitarian assistance, more than three years after it was closed following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021.

In a statement, the SDC announced that the office resumed operations at its former location in mid-March. The agency stressed that Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with nearly half the population still dependent on aid.

With this renewed presence, Switzerland aims to gain a clearer understanding of conditions on the ground and strengthen collaboration with local and international organisations to deliver targeted support. The office currently employs four international experts and ten local staff members.

The SDC’s primary focus areas include humanitarian aid, support for Afghan civil society—particularly women and girls—and improving food security in rural communities.

Swiss-led initiatives in Afghanistan are being implemented in cooperation with international NGOs, the Red Cross, UN agencies, and the World Bank. The office operates with an annual budget of 25 million Swiss francs (approximately $28 million), covering both programme delivery and staffing costs.

The SDC also maintains similar humanitarian operations in the Central African Republic, Haiti, and Syria, as part of Switzerland’s broader commitment to long-term development in priority countries.