WHO: About 84,000 People Affected by Recent Earthquake in Eastern Afghanistan

Photo: AP Photo

One week after the deadly earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that this disaster has so far claimed more than 2,200 lives, injured 3,640 people, and destroyed nearly 6,800 houses. In the mountainous areas with difficult access, search operations for survivors and the delivery of urgent assistance are still ongoing.

According to the latest WHO report, about 84,000 people in Kunar, Nangarhar and Laghman provinces have been affected by this incident. Among the injured, 42 percent are women and girls, and 10.3 percent are children under the age of five.

The organization stressed: “There is an urgent need for psychosocial and health support for children and families.” So far, more than 400 counseling and psychological referrals have been provided by mobile teams.

WHO also reported that 43 tons of medicine and medical supplies have been sent to the affected areas and mobile health teams in Noorgul district of Kunar and Nangarhar are providing medical and psychological services.

The organization warned that between 2 and 7 September alone, 734 cases of communicable diseases were recorded in Kunar, including 473 cases of respiratory infections, 231 cases of diarrhea, and 39 cases of malaria. Women and children are the most vulnerable to contracting these diseases and to serious consequences.

One of the major challenges in the relief process has been identified as the shortage of female doctors, a problem that severely limits women’s and girls’ access to medical services.

The World Health Organization stated that it needs 4 million dollars in emergency aid to continue operations and provide an immediate response to the needs of survivors.

This comes after a 6-magnitude earthquake shook the eastern provinces of Afghanistan, especially Kunar, on Sunday evening (31 August). The Taliban have also announced that the death toll from this event has so far exceeded 2,200 dead and 3,600 injured.