More than three months after the devastating earthquakes in western Afghanistan, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says greater support is needed for almost 100,000 children impacted by the calamity, particularly amid the harsh winter conditions in Western Afghanistan.
Over 2,000 people, most of whom were women and children, lost their lives or were wounded in the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck several districts in the western Herat province on October 7. The earthquake, followed by multiple aftershocks, destroyed 21,000 homes, leaving thousands of families without shelter, water, food, and other basic necessities. Three months later, many families in the region are still living in tents or sleeping in the open, enduring the harsh cold weather.
In a press release issued on Monday, January 15, the UN agency said that while it has provided aid to the earthquake victims, additional support is needed, especially as the freezing temperatures of winter intensify the hardships.
“We are grateful to our donor partners who mobilized resources quickly,” said Fran Equiza, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan. “But thousands still need our help. UNICEF is concerned about the survival of 96,000 children affected by the earthquakes if we are not able to provide the services they need to recover,” he added.
According to UNICEF, many families have been unable to rebuild their homes, they urgently need healthcare, clean water, and proper sanitation to prevent the spreading of disease. Additionally, families who have lost their livelihoods and crops are at risk of hunger and malnutrition. UNICEF says it urgently needs $1.4 billion in 2024 to meet the humanitarian and basic needs of 19.4 million people in Afghanistan, half of the population.
According to the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Afghanistan is one of the most seismically active regions in the world, making it prone to earthquake disasters. Over the past decade, more than 7,000 people have been killed in earthquakes in Afghanistan. In June 2022, a magnitude 6 earthquake devastated the eastern provinces of Paktika and Khost, killing more than 1,000 and injuring 3,000 more.
These natural disasters and the ongoing suffering of their victims highlight the vulnerability of the population since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. The country is struggling with the world’s worst humanitarian crisis amid shrinking international aid commitments. The UN and other aid agencies have said that the winter could push millions to the brink as they fail to raise enough resources to offer life-saving assistance. Poverty is sweeping and the country’s healthcare system, nearly fully reliant on humanitarian aid, is on the brink of collapse.
The UN estimates that in 2024, over half of Afghanistan’s population, about 23.7 million people, will require humanitarian aid. To address this pressing need, the UN has called for $3 billion in funding to deliver life-saving assistance to these vulnerable populations. Hopes, however, remain slim for the agency to meet its target.
