The recent 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan, which the Taliban government has reported to have claimed over 2,000 lives, has prompted urgent appeals for international assistance. CARE USA, part of the CARE International network, highlighted that Afghanistan was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis and was critically underfunded. The current Humanitarian Response Plan, aimed at aiding 23.7 million people in the country, is only 33.9% funded, leaving escalating needs unmet.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that humanitarian partners are intensifying response efforts while search and rescue operations continue. Emergency funds of $5 million (€4.74 million) have been approved, with additional allocations contingent on securing more donor resources.
Pakistan, Iran, and China have pledged to provide essential supplies such as food, blankets, medicines, tents, and financial support. In Herat province, the most severely impacted area, reports indicate 1,023 fatalities and 1,663 injuries across eleven villages.
Taliban officials, including Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar, visited the earthquake-affected region to oversee the distribution of immediate relief assistance and ensure equitable allocation of aid.
In a distressing turn of events, another 4.9 magnitude earthquake rattled western Afghanistan on Monday, exacerbating an already dire situation. Residents sought refuge in open spaces, expressing heightened anxiety due to the recent catastrophic seismic events. The mental health of affected individuals has become a pressing concern for healthcare workers, with many patients grappling with severe emotional distress.
This recent earthquake compounds the challenges faced by Afghanistan, where the humanitarian crisis was exacerbated by the Taliban’s assumption of power in August 2021. With winter approaching, urgent action is needed to address the multifaceted crises plaguing the nation.
