UN Warns of Escalating Humanitarian Needs in Afghanistan Following Herat Earthquakes
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that over 275,000 people in Herat Province urgently need assistance more than a year after devastating earthquakes struck the region. The earthquakes, which occurred on October 7, 11, and 15, 2023, resulted in 1,480 fatalities and nearly 2,000 injuries, destroying 382 villages and leaving entire communities without homes, schools, or essential infrastructure.
As winter approaches, 25,000 families remain without adequate shelter, intensifying humanitarian concerns. Despite the mobilization of humanitarian organizations and approximately $14.7 million in aid from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, OCHA indicates that resources are insufficient to meet growing needs.
The humanitarian crisis extends beyond Herat, with Afghanistan facing a $2.09 billion funding gap in its Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. This shortfall threatens critical services in healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation, affecting 3.7 million people without access to essential medical care. The Taliban’s restrictive policies further complicate relief efforts, impacting women’s participation in humanitarian operations.
Additionally, natural disasters, such as flash floods affecting over 18,900 people, and the return of over 1.1 million Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan have strained resources. OCHA emphasizes the urgent need for international support to address the funding shortfall and ensure aid reaches vulnerable populations.
It is worth mentioning that Misbah al-Hussein Foundation and several Shirazi-affiliated centres have continually provided relief aid and facilities to the needy in the nation, empowered by philanthropic efforts of the Shia community worldwide.
