Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan, UN Calls for $19 Million in Aid

Western Afghanistan is grappling with a series of powerful earthquakes, leaving communities in dire need. Just over a week ago, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Herat province, claiming the lives of 2,000 people. Tragically, stronger quakes and aftershocks have followed, increasing the death toll across the country.

Urgent UN Appeal for Assistance

The United Nations' World Food Program (WFP) has issued a pressing plea for $19 million to provide emergency aid to the tens of thousands affected by this disaster in western Afghanistan.

Ana Maria Salhuana, deputy country director of WFP in Afghanistan, has expressed the urgency of their situation, saying, "we are having to take this food from an already severely underfunded program." Their primary goal is to offer emergency food assistance to 100,000 people in the affected region.

A Continuous Series of Quakes

A significant 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit western Afghanistan just days after the initial disaster, marking the fourth quake of this magnitude in the same area in a little over a week. The earlier quakes, which struck on October 7, left entire villages flattened and were some of the most destructive in Afghanistan's recent history.

WFP staff reacted swiftly after the first quakes, distributing essential supplies to affected families in destroyed villages, including fortified biscuits and pulses.

The Grim Reality

Approximately 25,000 buildings have been reduced to rubble, and survivors find themselves sleeping in tents near the remains of their homes, anxiously awaiting further earthquakes and aftershocks.

Sadly, over 90% of the victims were women and children, as the quakes occurred during daytime hours when many men were outdoors working.

A Long Road to Recovery

The affected families face months of hardship, with winter approaching rapidly. With sufficient funding, the emergency response will be complemented by longer-term resilience programs to help vulnerable communities rebuild their lives.

It's worth noting that earlier this year, the WFP had to reduce food assistance due to a significant funding shortage, affecting 10 million people in Afghanistan. Additionally, they urgently require $400 million to prepare food supplies before winter, especially in areas cut off by snow and landslides.

The initial quake, multiple aftershocks, and a subsequent 6.3-magnitude quake wreaked havoc, destroying homes, schools, and clinics. Volunteers are aiding survivors as they grapple with the loss of family members and the devastating destruction of their villages.

Earthquakes are a common occurrence in Afghanistan due to its location at the convergence of multiple tectonic plates.