Christian charities have launched emergency appeals to support communities in Afghanistan reeling from a robust earthquake that struck the country late Sunday night, together with the tremor that hit the northeastern region on Tuesday.
Tearfund confirmed that its partners are working in among the hardest-hit areas, where landslides and rockfalls have cut off mountain villages.
The charity is providing health support, clean water, money assistance, emergency shelter, and food to families who’ve lost every part.
Tearfund’s Country Director for Afghanistan Solomon Cornelius described the challenges.
“Tearfund’s partners are navigating the difficult mountainous terrain to give you the chance to achieve communities cut off by landslides,” he said.
“Ahmed, 42, was sleeping outside when the earthquake struck. He saw the roof of his house suddenly fall in on his two daughters sleeping inside.
“Alongside the sensible needs for emergency shelter and food, there may be also a necessity for compassion and support for people like Abdul who’ve lost family and friends on this deadly earthquake.”
The death toll has surpassed 1,400, while hundreds more have sustained injuries.
In some villages, survivors have had to look the debris with their hands to rescue family members.
Tearfund has appealed for urgent donations to assist families get well each within the immediate crisis and in the long run, as many have also lost their homes and livelihoods.
Christian Aid has also launched an appeal to support relief efforts, and already transferred £50,000 to its local partner, the Organisation for Coordination of Humanitarian Relief (OCHR). However, it says more funds are urgently needed.
The acting country manager for Christian Aid in Afghanistan, Yaqoob Rauf, said: “Partners tell us that individuals have been severely impacted … we now have been told homes fabricated from mud and wood collapsed as helicopters were sent in to evacuate the injured.”
Afghanistan was already facing severe drought, food shortages, and economic collapse following years of prolonged warfare and cuts to international aid.
OCHR reports that almost 50 per cent of Afghans are depending on humanitarian aid to fulfill basic needs.
Rauf described the most recent disaster as “a devastating blow, coming on top of the 2023 earthquake in Herat and the continuing dire economic situation. Even before this heartbreaking earthquake, Afghanistan was under immense strain”.
Christian Aid’s current relief efforts are providing food, clean drinking water, shelter, and essential supplies, with a specific deal with protecting women and girls.
The charity has arrange a dedicated web page with information on how individuals and churches can support the appeal, together with a special prayer guide to be used in worship.
