KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A year after the devastating 6.3-magnitude earthquakes struck Herat, many survivors remain without adequate shelter or access to basic necessities, despite numerous promises of aid. Families who lost their homes and loved ones in the quakes say they continue to face severe challenges, as relief efforts fall short.
In Naib Rafi village, located in Herat’s Zindajan district, residents describe ongoing hardships. “I’m still in shock and can’t forget the weight of the suffering,” Mullah Jamal, a villager, recalled the devastation vividly. Despite initial pledges of support, he explained that the temporary shelters provided are insufficient. “These houses are just shelters—no walls, no water, no bathrooms. Winter is coming, and we can’t afford to secure our homes.”
Residents also face daily struggles with clean water access. “We walk half an hour to collect water, pushing wheelbarrows against strong winds,” Jamal added, describing the community’s ongoing battle for basic survival.
Shah Mohammad, another resident, echoed these frustrations, noting that the homes built for survivors lack surrounding walls, exposing families to additional risks. He emphasized that, for months, neither the Taliban nor aid organizations have provided assistance. “Aid groups have turned their backs on us,” he said.
The earthquakes, which struck on October 7, 2023, caused widespread devastation in Zindajan and neighboring areas. While the exact death toll remains uncertain, Taliban officials estimate that at least 4,000 people were killed, with more than 90% of the victims being women and children. The United Nations reports that 48,000 families were affected, many of whom are now living in tents with minimal resources.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 40,000 homes were destroyed or damaged, leaving 275,000 people in urgent need of aid. The earthquakes hit vulnerable communities already struggling with decades of conflict and underdevelopment, and their impact was further compounded by Afghanistan’s lean season and the approach of winter, worsening the strain on food resources.
According to the UN, direct damages from the Herat earthquakes total $217 million, with an additional $78.9 million in indirect losses. The ongoing crisis underscores the fragility of Afghanistan’s population, which has been left vulnerable since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. The country now faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, exacerbated by shrinking international aid.
In 2024, the UN estimates that 23.7 million people—over half of Afghanistan’s population—will require humanitarian assistance. The organization has called for $3 billion in funding to provide life-saving aid, but only 6% of the requested funds have been received so far.
