The Human Toll Of Afghanistan's Deadly Earthquake

A powerful earthquake struck Afghanistan in June 2022, killing more than 1,000 people and injuring over 1,500. The 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit a rural, mountainous region in the country's southeast, close to the border with Pakistan. The quake was Afghanistan's deadliest in two decades and posed a significant challenge to the Taliban-led government, which had already been facing economic and humanitarian crises.

The death toll of the Afghanistan earthquake rose to over 1,000

On June 22, 2022, a powerful earthquake struck a rural, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, killing over 1,000 people and injuring more than 1,500 others. The 6.1-magnitude quake hit the southeastern part of Afghanistan, about 27 to 28 miles from the city of Khost, close to the Pakistan border. The death toll is expected to rise as some of the affected villages are in remote areas in the mountains.

The majority of the fatalities were in the province of Paktika, where 90 homes were destroyed, and dozens of people were believed to be trapped under the rubble. The Taliban-led government urged aid agencies to send teams to the area immediately. The quake was the latest in a string of tragedies to affect the country since the Taliban seized power from the U.S.-backed government.

The response to the earthquake is likely to be complicated as many international aid agencies left Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. The UN and other international organizations have rushed to send aid and support the relief efforts. However, Afghanistan's international isolation and the lack of pre-positioned supplies have hampered the humanitarian response.

The earthquake in Afghanistan has highlighted the country's fragile situation, with the Taliban struggling to provide basic services and the international community wary of providing support due to human rights concerns. The quake has also brought attention to the poor living conditions and lack of medical facilities in the affected areas, especially for women.

As the death toll rose, the world grieved with Afghanistan, and countries such as India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates offered aid and support. The Taliban government allocated 1 billion AFS to the affected areas and provided cash aid to each district impacted by the earthquake.

The earthquake was the deadliest in the country in two decades

On June 22, 2022, a powerful earthquake struck a rural, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border. The 5.9-6.1 magnitude earthquake was the deadliest in the country in two decades, killing more than 1,000 people and injuring over 1,500 others. The quake struck about 27-50 miles from the city of Khost and was centred in the neighbouring Paktika province, which lies along the border with Pakistan.

The majority of the fatalities and worst damage were in Paktika province, where 90 homes were destroyed and dozens of people were believed to be trapped under the rubble. The death toll is likely to rise as some of the villages are in remote areas in the mountains, and it will take time to collect information. The interior ministry official Salahuddin Ayubi stated that the numbers of those killed and injured were reported by the country's state-run Bakhtar News Agency.

The quake was Afghanistan's deadliest in two decades and posed a significant test for the Taliban-led government, which seized power the previous year as the US planned its withdrawal from the country. The response to the earthquake was expected to be complicated as many international aid agencies left Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. The UN and other international organisations rushed to send essential supplies to the affected areas. However, Afghanistan's international isolation complicated relief efforts as fewer aid organisations had a presence in the country, and many governments were reluctant to provide financial support to the Taliban.

The shallow earthquake, with a depth of about 6-31.6 miles (10-51km), caused severe damage to the region. The mountainous terrain and poor road infrastructure further hampered rescue and relief efforts. The quake-prone country has a history of strong earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush region bordering Pakistan.

The Taliban requested aid from other countries

The earthquake posed a significant challenge to the Taliban-led government, which was already facing economic and humanitarian crises. The group has struggled to reconstitute government ministries, and the country's healthcare system has faced crippling cuts due to reduced international assistance.

Despite the Taliban's request for aid, many countries were hesitant to provide direct support due to sanctions and the group's troubled relationship with Western nations. However, some countries stepped forward to offer assistance, including:

• Pakistan: Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar dispatched medical teams, field hospitals, tents, and blankets, with more relief goods to follow.
• Iran: Foreign Minister Amir Abdullahian pledged humanitarian aid and expressed readiness to cooperate with Afghanistan.
• China: The Chinese Red Cross Society pledged $200,000 in aid to the Afghan Red Crescent.
• Turkey: The foreign office stated its readiness to provide support for recovery efforts.
• India: Sent humanitarian aid, including family tents, blankets, and other relief supplies.
• UAE: Provided emergency aid, including food, medical aid, and other supplies.
• Taiwan: Donated $1 million for relief efforts.
• Japan: Planned to provide necessary aid and assistance.
• South Korea: Provided $1 million in humanitarian assistance.

The United Nations and its agencies also played a crucial role in coordinating and providing aid. The UN humanitarian coordinator approved a $5 million emergency reserve allocation from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund. Additionally, countries like the UK and the EU offered immediate help through the UN and other international relief bodies.

The earthquake measured 6.1 in magnitude

The earthquake that struck Afghanistan in June 2022 measured 6.1 in magnitude. The powerful quake struck a rural, mountainous region in the country's east, near the Pakistani border. The tremors were felt over a range of around 310 miles (500km) by about 119 million people in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India.

The earthquake's hypocenter was shallow, at a depth of 6.2 miles (10km) according to some sources, and 31.6 miles (51km) according to others. Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage, and this was a significant factor in the devastation caused by the quake. The epicenter was located about 27-28 miles (44km) from the city of Khost, which is close to the country's border with Pakistan.

The impact of the earthquake was localized but extensive, with the hardest-hit areas being the communities of Gayan, Nika, Barmal, and Zirok in Paktika province. Paktika was the worst-affected province, with the majority of fatalities occurring there. Footage from the area showed victims being airlifted from the province by helicopter.

The earthquake caused extensive destruction, flattening more than 3,000 houses and causing widespread damage to public property. About 10,000 homes were partially or completely destroyed, and thousands of stone and mud-brick homes crumbled. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported a magnitude of 5.9, while the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a magnitude of 6.0.

The death toll from the earthquake rose above 1,000, with more than 1,500 people injured. Among the casualties were 230 dead and 591 injured children. The United Nations (UN) cited a death toll of 1,039 and 2,949 people injured. The Taliban put the death toll at 1,150 people with at least 1,600 injuries.

The earthquake was Afghanistan's deadliest in two decades and posed a major test for the Taliban-led government, which seized power the year before. The response to the disaster was likely complicated by the absence of Western aid groups and the country's poor infrastructure, with rutted mountain roadways further damaged by the quake.

The earthquake struck near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border

Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes, and on Saturday, October 7, 2023, a series of powerful earthquakes struck the western part of the country. The quakes, which registered magnitudes of up to 6.3, were centred in the Zindajan district of Herat province, about 25 miles (40 kilometres) west of Herat city. This region borders Iran and is close to the Pakistan border.

The earthquakes were among the world's deadliest in 2023, killing over 2,000 people and injuring more than 2,000 others. The death toll continued to rise as rescuers pulled more bodies from the rubble in the days following the quakes. The United Nations humanitarian coordinator approved a $5 million emergency reserve allocation from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF) to assist with relief efforts.

The earthquakes toppled buildings and sent panicked residents fleeing into the streets. The quakes and their aftershocks affected not only Afghanistan but also neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, India, and Tajikistan. In the provincial capital of Herat city, residents slept outdoors in parks and on streets, fearful of returning to their homes amid ongoing tremors.

The Taliban, which rules Afghanistan, has faced criticism for its handling of the disaster. The group has limited experience in managing natural disasters and has strained relations with international aid organisations due to its policies restricting women's employment. Additionally, the country's healthcare system has been crippled by a lack of foreign aid since the Taliban's return to power in 2021.

The international response to the earthquakes has been slow, with only a few countries, including neighbouring Pakistan, offering public support. Aid agencies and non-governmental organisations have appealed for more assistance from the global community as winter approaches, which will bring even harsher conditions to the affected areas.

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