Afghanistan continues to experience a series of earthquakes, with another tremor registering a magnitude of 5.0. The recent earthquake has heightened the fear among the population. Fortunately, initial reports indicate that there have been no reports of major damage or casualties.
The new earthquake occurred following the devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake on August 31st which led to the death of over 2,200 people and the destruction of many villages. The most recent earthquake caused homes to collapse and people to be trapped in the rubble. Kunar province has been most affected, where the communities primarily live in simple houses.
An assessment by Islamic Relief revealed that nearly 98% of buildings in the province have been destroyed or damaged. Aid organizations are in urgent need of resources. One resident, Muhammad Israel, stated that the earthquake caused landslides which destroyed his home and belongings in Kunar. He described the difficulty of rescuing his children and how the aftershocks make it impossible to remain in the area.
Further, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, but there are no reports of casualties or damage. A resident who is staying in a UN camp in Nurghal is describing difficult conditions. Initial estimates of the death toll were around 1,400, but the latest reports are much higher. Taliban officials have announced the death toll has risen to 2,205. Search and rescue operations are underway. Tents and basic medical supplies are being distributed. Accessing remote areas is difficult. Helicopters have been deployed. Aid workers are walking for hours to reach the isolated areas.
Humanitarian efforts are also being affected by a lack of funding. The Norwegian Refugee Council has a much reduced number of staff. The council has only one warehouse and is out of emergency supplies. The organization is waiting on funding to purchase supplies which is expected to take weeks, while the people need them now. A doctor working in the UN camp has said that the survivors need medicine, tents, food and clean water. The Qatari Minister of State for International Cooperation, Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, has arrived in Kabul to oversee the delivery of aid to the earthquake victims. She is the first female minister to visit since the Taliban’s return and is also the first high-ranking foreign official to visit after the earthquake. Aid organizations are highlighting that the recent disaster is a crisis within a crisis. Afghanistan is already struggling due to drought, economic challenges, and the return of refugees.