Two powerful aftershocks struck eastern Afghanistan in the space of 12 hours, further terrifying and causing more devastation in already affected areas of fatal earthquakes. Authorities indicated that over 2,200 individuals have lost their lives this week following a string of quakes that ravaged villages in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. Thousands of families were displaced from their homes, and many now reside under the open sky with nearly no food, water or shelter.
Deaths Rising and Homes Gone
The first major earthquake struck late Sunday night and was later followed by additional quakes on Tuesday and Thursday. On Friday morning, another aftershock hit again. At least 2,205 people were killed and over 3,600 were wounded, the Taliban government reported. More than 6,700 houses have been reduced to rubble, many of them constructed from mud and stone that could not resist the shaking ground. Many houses are leveled to the ground in most of the villages, and rescue personnel continue to excavate through the rubble to locate missing people. Families are too afraid to go back into their destroyed homes for fear that more shocks are to follow, so they prefer to remain outside even without shelter.
Aid Trouble and Slow Relief
Aid has taken a long time to reach due to the landslides and ruptured roads that are hindering passage. This prevents the rescuers from accessing far-flung villages, and there are some that are inaccessible. The World Health Organization described the situation as extremely serious. Residents are packed tightly together without toilets and clean water, which increases the risk of disease. The WHO requested a minimum of 4 million dollars to maintain health services there. The United Nations further alerted that its funds to assist Afghanistan are nearly exhausted. It already released 10 million dollars but announced that an emergency appeal for additional aid will be launched soon.
Afghanistan’s Taliban leaders appealed to other nations for assistance after the disaster, but aid has not been sufficient. Foreign aid has decreased a great deal since the Taliban seized power in 2021. That has left the nation extremely vulnerable when disasters hit. Meanwhile, Afghanistan is also grappling with drought and with large numbers of people repatriated from Iran and Pakistan, so the crisis is even more severe.
Life After the Quakes
Families in the affected provinces are living outdoors in tents if they can afford them, and others lie under the open sky with blankets or sheets for shelter. They are concerned about how they will manage on limited food and medicine, as winter also approaches. Children and the elderly are most vulnerable in such situations. The Afghanistan earthquakes typically occur in the Hindu Kush mountains, where two massive tectonic plates force against one another. Authorities assert there can be further earthquakes in this area and that people must remain vigilant.
FAQs
Q1. How many people were killed in the Afghanistan earthquakes?
At least 2,200 individuals have been killed so far.
Q2. How many houses were destroyed?
Over 6,700 homes collapsed in the quakes.
Q3. What is the greatest need presently?
Afghan survivors are in need of food, drinking water, shelter, and medical assistance.
Q4. Who is assisting Afghanistan?
The UN, the WHO, and the Taliban government are calling for international aid.
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