Hagar medical staff attend to those impacted by the Afghanistan earthquake
More than 1000 people have been killed and 1500 injured in the Paktika and Khost provinces of Afghanistan after a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit the nation’s south-eastern regions Tuesday night(21:00 GMT). The earthquake, whose epicenter was in Khost, caused further devastation after a 4.5 magnitude aftershock followed it just one hour later.
Paktika is one of the most remote provinces in Afghanistan that has been impacted by the country’s recent political upheaval. With few public health services and a high level of poverty, the province’s people were in a critical condition even before this emergency occurred.
Since 2021 Hagar Afghanistan has been supporting the people of Paktika through our Emergency Response Plan. The plan was developed to support destitute and displaced people in numerous ways, such as providing them with primary health services. Recently we even set up a mobile health team which provides support to those unable to travel for vital health care. Hagar is currently the only NGO operating in the area, outside of emergencies.
This recent crisis has added extra pressure on the already struggling province so officials of Paktika province, from the Directorate of Public Health, requested Hagar Afghanistan’s mobile health team to provide urgent medical support for the people.
As a result Hagar immediately deployed a small team to the area to provide much needed medical first aid to the most vulnerable people. Using our existing medical resources from our primary health care project, including the ambulance-like vehicle from our mobile clinic we have been able to provide support for these people. This work is ongoing and providing much needed assistance while we determine the future needs of the affected community. We will provide updated reports from the ground as we receive them from our team.
Executive Director of Hagar Afghanistan, Jan De Waal explained the dire situation is compounded by other difficulties.
“Normally in a situation like this a country has mechanisms in place with the onset of a disaster, including the NGO sector. One can normally within 24 hours have a proposal ready. But there are no donors left in the country, no USAID, EU, DFID, NORAD, GTZ- only the UN. So even if bi and multi laterals want to donate they cannot because of the sanctions by the UN and its member states,” he said.
The situation is bleak but with your help we can make a real difference on the frontline. To join us in supporting the people of Paktika with food, safe accommodation and medical care please consider donating to the cause by pressing the ‘Donate’ hyperlink or button below.
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By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
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By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.