Earthquake in Herat, Afghanistan
People Helped
Humanitarian Needs
Three 6.3 magnitude earthquakes rocked Herat Province in October 2023, impacting over 100,000 people and destroying 100 percent of all the homes in the worst-affected areas. By mid-October, 1,384 people were reported killed and 1,853 injured. A series of subsequent aftershocks compelled people to seek refuge in open spaces, makeshift tents, or informal sites, exposing them to health and protection risks.
Primary needs include emergency shelter and non-food items, medical assistance, sanitation facilities, and support for mental health and related protection services. Ninety percent of respondents indicated their food access is severely lacking, while 83 percent reported their homes were completely destroyed, 98 percent have no access to proper sanitation facilities and 100 percent of those interviewed said they felt unsafe.
When asked to rank their needs, emergency shelter, medical assistance and sanitation facilities, mental health and psychosocial support and protection were named. It is estimated 114,000 people are in need while 94,000 people are in need of shelter.
Humanitarian Response
Islamic Relief Afghanistan is responding by providing improved access to shelter for earthquake-affected individuals, including latrines, along with support for temporary rental accommodation; essential non-food items such as solar lamps and kitchen; and cash for immediate and longer-term food assistance and other needs.
World Vision is responding by offering improved and equitable access to emergency health services for earthquake affected populations in Herat province; assessing and rehabilitating damaged health facilities; forming a rapid response team to deliver emergency health and nutrition services; providing mental health and psychosocial support for affected people; provide medicine and medical supplies to improve trauma care services; increasing access to child protection services for earthquake affected populations; and providing psychosocial support and psychological first aid for children and parenting skills for adults.
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