On Sunday, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rattled western Afghanistan, asreported by the US Geological Survey, adding to a series of tremors thathave recently shaken the region. The quake’s epicenter was situated 33kilometers (20 miles) from Herat city, the capital of the western province,with a depth of 6.3 kilometers.
This event followed a magnitude 6.3 earthquake on October 7, along witheight powerful aftershocks, which resulted in over 1,000 fatalities andhundreds of injuries in the same area.
The region witnessed yet another tremor of similar magnitude, causing onefatality and injuring 130 others, leaving entire villages flattened andthousands without shelter. As a consequence of these earthquakes, more than12,000 people have been impacted, with UNICEF revealing that over 90% ofthe casualties were women and children.
This challenging situation is exacerbated by Afghanistan’s ongoinghumanitarian crisis, characterized by the withdrawal of foreign aid afterthe Taliban’s resurgence to power in August 2021. Providing shelter on alarge scale presents a significant challenge for the Taliban authorities,who have strained relations with international aid organizations.
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Homes in rural Afghanistan are typically made from mud and wooden supportpoles, lacking steel or concrete reinforcement. The prevalence ofmulti-generational extended family structures in the region means thatearthquakes can have a devastating impact on entire communities.
These earthquakes further compound the difficulties faced by Afghanistan,highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and support forthe affected population.