Nearly 500 people are still missing in the area most affected by the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck Herat province in western Afghanistan on Saturday, UN aid agencies reported this Tuesday.
In the earthquake’s epicenter, Zindajan district, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recorded nearly 1,300 deaths and 1,700 injuries. In certain areas, entire cities were destroyed, according to teams on the ground.
More than 12,000 affected
An estimated 12,110 people or 1,730 families are affected in five districts of Herat. That number is expected to rise as assessments continue, said Jens Laerke, spokesman for OCHA Geneva.
A series of aftershocks, including one of magnitude 5.1 on Tuesday, have worsened the situation. UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) spokesman William Spindler said search and rescue teams were providing water and shelter for the most vulnerable despite extensive damage and traumatized survivors.
The most affected people have lost everything they own and need warm clothing now that winter is approaching, Spindler explained, adding that many “haven’t had a plate of hot food since the earthquake.”
A woman looks at the ruins of her house, which was destroyed by the earthquake in Afghanistan’s Herat province.
Health Services
World Health Organization (WHO) spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said the immediate goal now was to save the lives of the injured and ensure survivors had access to humanitarian assistance, including essential health services. “Women, children and vulnerable populations have been severely affected by the disaster,” he said, adding that the country’s health workers continued to care for patients without any discrimination.
Jasarevic confirmed that the UN health agency had provided enough supplies to treat 650 wounded people at the Herat regional hospital. Another 25 tons of medicines and medical supplies were also sent to Herat, while 54 mobile health teams, three of them from WHO, were deployed to the affected areas and twelve ambulances were sent to Zindajan and Ghorian districts to evacuate the injured to the regional hospital and other medical centers.
Risk of disease
The WHO spokesman warned that the displacement caused by the disaster posed significant health risks, including increased transmission of infectious diseases such as measles, acute respiratory infections and acute watery diarrhea. He called on authorities to step up their preparations in the event of a disease outbreak.
She also called for psychological first aid for survivors and welcoming spaces for children who have experienced intense stress and the loss of loved ones. In line with these concerns, OCHA spokesperson Laerke emphasized that children are particularly at risk as they have suffered severe mental health disorders due to the earthquake and require psychosocial and psychological support.
Humanitarian aid
Laerke noted that search and rescue efforts are underway with the support of international partners. According to the World Health Organization, as of Sunday, October 8, more than 550 serious and critical cases were admitted to seven hospitals in Herat city.
Food assistance and protection, emergency shelter, non-food items such as tarpaulins, blankets, clothing and kitchen utensils, and sanitation and hygiene items such as latrines, drinking water and storage containers will also be provided as a priority.