ActionAid Ireland says response to the Afghanistan earthquake “a race against time” in providing urgent humanitarian aid
ActionAid Ireland today called on the international community to rally and heed the call for swift humanitarian aid to the thousands affected by the devastating earthquake that struck Afghanistan on August 31st.
The scale of this tragedy is heartbreaking
ActionAid Ireland CEO, Karol Balfe, said the organisations teams in Afghanistan are working closely with local partners to assess the situation and ascertain the emergency support and funding required and coordinate a response.
She said: “The scale of this tragedy is heartbreaking. There is concern about the welfare of the affected communities, particularly women and girls who face heightened vulnerabilities in emergencies. The most urgent needs on the ground are emergency healthcare support, food, clean water, search and rescue teams, and equipment.”
6.0-magnitude earthquake
The earthquake has caused immense damage across Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces. The 6.0-magnitude earthquake has killed over 1,411 people, injured 3,124 and left a trail of destruction to key infrastructure. ActionAid has been working in Afghanistan since 2005 and is operational in Nangarhar and Laghman and coordinating with partners carrying out a rapid assessment.
Needs are immense
Srikanta Misra, the Country Director of ActionAid Afghanistan, said: “More than 12,000 people have been directly affected by the earthquake, and the needs are immense. Sadly, the affected areas were already grappling with several challenges, including food shortages, with one in five people facing hunger and nearly three million suffering from severe malnutrition. With the public service system already stretched to its limits, we are racing against time to provide swift humanitarian assistance.”
He added that ActionAid Afghanistan is working tirelessly to provide support to communities in areas where it operates and beyond. Teams have been deployed to conduct assessments of the most pressing needs.
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