ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ supports earthquake survivors in Afghanistan
In the wake of the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Herat province, western Afghanistan, on Saturday 7 October, the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ (ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½) is on the ground providing assistance to survivors. The authorities estimate the current death toll at 2,000, with more than 4,000 people injured and 1,400 displaced.
Hours after the quake, Herat-based ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ teams began distributing high-energy biscuits to 700 families in Seya Aab, Koshak and Karnil villages. Many of them have lost their homes and everything they owned.
Assessments are ongoing and ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ is preparing to reach up to 70,000 earthquake-affected people with food or cash, and has already prepared food parcels for 20,000 people. Each parcel can feed a family of seven for one month and contains fortified wheat flour and vegetable oil, pulses and salt.
¡°This terrible earthquake is the second to hit the country in two months and comes at a time of immense humanitarian needs, when 15 million people do not know where their next meal will come from,¡± said Anamaria Salhuana, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Deputy Country Director in Afghanistan.
ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½¡¯s programmes across Afghanistan ¨C where one third of the population is food insecure ¨C ensure people affected by conflict, disasters and climate extremes receive the support they need wherever they are.
ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ urgently needs US$400 million to help 7 million of the most vulnerable people survive the coming months, including pre-positioning food ahead of the harsh Afghan winter when entire communities are cut off.