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Kabul: After a series of devastating earthquakes that rocked Herat Province from October 7 to 15, 2023, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has issued an urgent appeal for $25 million.
These powerful earthquakes, magnitude of 6.3, inflicted widespread destruction on the province, impacting 1.6 million people. The toll includes over 1,500 lives lost, 11,000 injuries, and extensive damage to more than 21,000 residential houses and critical infrastructure. The dire situation has exacerbated the already challenging circumstances faced by communities grappling with profound poverty and underdevelopment, according to a statement released by the UNDP.
The survivors of these earthquakes, primarily women and children, find themselves living in makeshift tents, exposed to harsh weather conditions. They are in desperate need of essential provisions such as clean water, healthcare, food, and suitable shelter, as highlighted in the UNDP’s statement.
The UNDP’s appeal is a vital component of the broader Herat Earthquake Response Plan, devised by the UN Humanitarian Country Team. It requires $93.6 million to assist 114,000 individuals facing the most acute needs, particularly as they confront the challenges of the impending winter season. While UNDP, in collaboration with UN partners and non-governmental organizations, has already allocated $3.15 million from its resources for immediate relief and recovery efforts, it is clear that these funds fall significantly short of the immense demand for rebuilding and recovery in Herat Province, as emphasized by the UNDP.
“The situation on the ground is desperate, and winter is fast approaching. We aim to help these communities restore basic infrastructure, especially shelter, and return to normalcy as quickly as possible. We’ve repurposed some of our existing resources to start moving quickly, but these resources are just not enough,” Stephen Rodriques, UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan, said.
UNDP’s urgent appeal for an additional $25 million is aimed at addressing critical priorities in Herat Province, including providing transitional and permanent shelter through owner-driven Community Housing approaches. The funding will also support the reconstruction of essential infrastructure, the provision of renewable energy for households, schools, and health facilities, restoration and management of water systems and resources, and the creation of temporary jobs through cash-for-work initiatives, along with longer-term livelihood opportunities.
Despite numerous global crises, Afghanistan remains on the fringes of international attention. The country, already burdened by four decades of conflict, is now grappling with the aftermath of these devastating earthquakes in addition to severe poverty and food insecurity, affecting three out of eight people nationwide. UNDP’s Deputy Special Representative, Rodriques, underscored the importance of international assistance and urged the global community not to overlook Afghanistan’s needs, particularly those of the vulnerable population in Herat who have endured this recent catastrophe.
