On 7 October 2023, Afghanistan was hit by earthquake, followed by two aftershock intense quakes on 11 and 15 October 2023. It have affected thousands of people, including approximately 10,000 homes which have been completely destroyed and 20,430 severely damaged. 

The latest assessments indicate that 1,480 people died and 1,950 were wounded, and at least 114,000 people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Many families have been forced to live out in the open, in makeshift shelters or informal settlement sites, leaving them vulnerable to many protection hazards as well as the fast-approaching winter weather.

UNHCR'S Response

Shelter

UNHCR and our local partner Ansari Rehabilitation Association for Afghanistan (ARAA) have addressed the needs of nearly 2,000 earthquake-affected families across three villages of Kushk in Rabat-e-Sangai district through the distribution of family tents and Core Relief Items. In coordination with other UN agencies and NGOs working on shelter, UNHCR assembled and installed refugee housing units at the Noor Hospital, Herat This is to assist overcrowded hospitals to accommodate survivors of the earthquakes who are currently receiving casualty treatment.

Core Relief Item

UNHCR continues distributing core relief items based on the identified needs and gaps. Since 8 October, we have provided 1,921 emergency shelters, 18656 blankets, 5,308 cooking gas cylinders and buckets, 10,616 jerrycans, 5,138 kitchen sets, 10,603 tarpaulins, 9,962 sanitary napkins and 25,886 bars of soaps. Over 10,000 solar lamps were distributed for protection as most affected communities are not connected to the power grid.

Your contribution has had a significant impact on the affected families in Afghanistan.