Afghan villagers and volunteers dug for survivors of a series of fatal earthquakes as aid began to trickle into the region.
Volunteers in vehicles stocked with food, tents, and blankets flocked to hard-to-reach areas 30km (19 miles) northwest of Herat city, the capital of the same-named province, struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake Saturday and eight powerful aftershocks, as per SCMP.
Volunteers Rally to Aid Earthquake-Stricken Afghanistan
Volunteers arrived in trucks carrying essential supplies such as food, tents, and blankets, and they rapidly converged on remote areas that were incredibly inaccessible due to the devastation. In addition to delivering aid, these volunteers brought shovels to aid in the arduous process of excavating through the debris of destroyed villages in search of survivors.
Khalid, a 32-year-old volunteer in the Zenda Jan district, characterized the rescue efforts as follows: "Many people have traveled from distant districts to help rescue victims. Everyone scours for bodies everywhere; we do not know if others are beneath the rubble."
Local and national authorities have given contradictory accounts of the casualties. The Taliban administration reported that the earthquakes killed at least 2,400 persons and injured many more.
In contrast, the United Nations Humanitarian Office reported 1,023 deaths, 1,663 reported injuries, and more than 500 people still missing. The World Health Organization reports that over 11,000 people in 1,655 families have been afflicted.
As confined survivors remain inaccessible, the International Rescue Committee warns that a dearth of rescue equipment could result in a higher death toll.
Salma Ben Aissa, the committee's country director for Afghanistan, voiced concern, stating, "There is a lack of disaster management capacity, and the limited capacity that exists cannot encompass the population on the ground. The number of fatalities is increasing hourly."
A pressing issue is the absence of medical infrastructure to heal those injured by the earthquake, resulting in additional deaths. The harsh living conditions, including insufficient access to food, shelter, and pure water, increase the health hazards for the affected communities, according to EuroNews.
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Humanitarian Organizations Respond to Afghanistan's Earthquake Crisis
Numerous humanitarian organizations have mobilized their resources in response to the crisis. The International Rescue Committee and Doctors Without Borders have erected medical pavilions and dispatched healthcare teams to provide injured calamity victims with urgently required medical care.
UNICEF has dispatched winter apparel, blankets, and tarpaulins to assist people in coping with the frigid weather. Despite these efforts, the extent of the devastation is still enormous. The country director for Afghanistan at Save the Children, Arshad Malik, characterized the situation as a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by a severe food shortage among children.
He demanded an immediate influx of international aid and support. Neighboring Pakistan has contacted Afghan authorities to evaluate their immediate requirements and offer assistance.
Afghanistan, already one of the poorest nations in Asia, confronts daunting challenges in the aftermath of the earthquakes, exacerbated by decades of conflict and international isolation. The Taliban's takeover in August of 2021 further complicated the humanitarian situation as aid organizations struggled to respond effectively.
The earthquakes have exacerbated the country's problems, highlighting the need for international assistance. Although some countries have offered aid, additional international assistance is required to address Afghanistan's immediate and long-term challenges after this disaster, CNN News reported.
