On October 7, two back-to-back 6.3-magnitude earthquakes hit western Afghanistan, affecting Herat province. Thousands of people have been reported killed, and many more injured and missing. The disaster has displaced families and left them living in congested shelters with limited access to water and other resources. As search and rescue operations continue, the situation is expected to worsen—especially as winter approaches—exposing affected communities to infectious diseases.
International Medical Corps is coordinating with various humanitarian actors, including clusters, UN agencies, NGOs and the Afghan National Disaster Management Authority, to plan and implement a collective and effective response to the deadly earthquakes. Our teams are assessing the needs on the ground. We have already dispatched our first batch of relief items, including winterization kits, to the Zindajan district, which has reported high levels of destruction and displacement. We are also working to establish a mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) working group, train frontline staff on psychological first aid and lead the infant and young-child feeding technical working group in Herat at the request of the Nutrition cluster.
Previously, International Medical Corps immediately responded to another deadly earthquake that struck Paktika and Khost provinces in Afghanistan on June 22, 2022. And we are ready this time, too, to provide whatever help is needed. In the coming days, our priority will be to provide lifesaving services, including health, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, MHPSS, protection, and non-food items, to the affected people in Zindajan and Injil districts in Herat. At the same time, we are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff and partners on the ground.
Read the latest situation report