The Afghanistan Earthquake occurred around 11 o’clock AM on Saturday, October 7, 2023, with a magnitude of 6.3, shaking the Zindajan district in Herat Province.

Minutes after the initial earthquake, another quake, registering at a magnitude of 5.5, struck, followed by subsequent earthquakes of lower intensity. On the 15th of October, a third earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.4, shook Herat City and other districts within Herat Province.

2,500 people, including children and women, lost their lives, and more than 10,000 others have been injured, with thousands of homes being destroyed. According to UNICEF reports, 90 percent of the Afghanistan Earthquake victims in Herat Province are women and children.

The recent continuous earthquakes in Herat Province have caused enormous destruction. Due to a lack of shelter, most of the people are living in the open, around their destroyed homes.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimations, around 114,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Herat Province, and around 27,150 people have been affected across six districts: Zindajan, Injil, Kushk/Rabat-e-Sangai, Ghulan, Herat, and Kohsan of Herat Province.

In some of the districts, people have suffered significant damage. The HBT team arrived at the affected areas and started to investigate. They identified the severity of the situation, the overall damages, and the immediate needs of the affected families.

After conducting investigations to assess the urgent needs of the affected families, the HBT team distributed 95 warm winter blankets during its first round of humanitarian aid. These aids were given to women and children who suffered the most from this earthquake. HBT Organization, alongside other organizations, is providing more humanitarian aid for these families.

Based on our team’s reports, there was a school in Zindajan district with 31 students studying. The earthquake resulted in the tragic loss of 26 students. Similarly, according to WHO reports, 40 healthcare facilities in Herat City and 13 in the surrounding areas were damaged. The earthquake has affected healthcare services, and most of the health services are being provided with temporary tents.

The victims of this earthquake need our help now more than ever. Stand with us in our humanitarian aid campaign for the affected families in Herat Province.

you can make a donation by following this link.https://hbt.org/herat