UNHCR Seeks Urgent Aid for Earthquake-Struck Afghanistan

UNHCR Seeks Urgent Aid for Earthquake-Struck Afghanistan
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a global appeal for urgent support for communities in eastern Afghanistan that were devastated by an earthquake on August 31, according to a briefing note from the organization. The disaster has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in the country.

The earthquake is estimated to have killed 800 people and injured 3,000, destroying entire villages. UNHCR and its partners are struggling to provide aid, with rescue operations hampered by a lack of basic infrastructure and blocked roads. The agency is deploying essential relief items like tents, blankets, and solar lamps from its stockpiles in Kabul and is assessing emergency supplies in the region.

UNHCR is particularly concerned about vulnerable populations, including women, children, people with disabilities, and child- or female-headed households. The earthquake struck as Afghanistan was already grappling with a severe drought and the return of millions of Afghans from neighboring countries, which has further strained the limited resources of local communities. The organization warned that its current capacity and stocks are stretched thin, emphasizing the need for immediate international assistance to prevent further tragedy.