On Saturday 7 October 2023 a 6.3 magnitude earthquake followed by strong aftershocks hit Afghanistan’s Herat province, causing more than 2,000 deaths and leaving widespread destruction. Thousands more have been injured, with people trapped beneath rubble, and villages flattened.
Just days following, another high-magnitude earthquake hit the region on 11 October. The latest reports from UNHCR indicate that at least 120 people have been injured as a result of the last quake, which also caused a landslide blocking the main Herat-Torghundi highway.
Initial estimates put the number of affected people at 12,000, with the figure likely to increase as the full scale of the disaster unfolds and the province continues to experience earthquakes and aftershocks.
Priority needs include emergency shelter, non-food items, latrines, potable water, food assistance, protection, and warm clothing ahead of cold winter months.
The following organisations have launched appeals to provide relief to affected communities.
The entities listed below have been collated from preliminary research and APS has not conducted a detailed analysis of their financial position and governance ahead of their inclusion in this list. As with all emergency appeals, should a donation be received and not be needed in Afghanistan, the charity will apply it to similar situations around the world. This is not an exhaustive list of the not-for-profit organisations working in this space.
Caritas Australia
https://www.caritas.org.au/donate/emergency-appeals/afghanistan/
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
Last updated 12 October 2023