Southeastern Afghanistan has been shaken once again, this time by a magnitude 5.5 aftershock on Tuesday, which struck just two days after a devastating earthquake claimed the lives of more than 1,400 people and injured thousands more. The tremor’s shallow depth of 10 km has reignited fears of additional damage in an already ravaged area, further crippling rescue efforts initiated in the wake of Sunday night’s earthquake.
That quake, which registered a magnitude of 6, left a trail of destruction through remote villages, with reports stating that nearly every home was either damaged or completely annihilated. As locals continued to dig through the rubble in hopes of finding survivors, newly reported injuries and fatalities were expected to drive the death toll even higher, according to Safiullah Noorzai, who works with Aseel, a humanitarian tech platform active in the region.
Rescue operations have been severely hampered by the treacherous mountainous terrain and the triggered rockslides from the latest aftershock. “A lot of people were still trapped,” Noorzai lamented, as humanitarian teams faced escalating dangers attempting to navigate through the debris. The aftermath has brought additional complications – reports indicate that at least 5,400 homes have been destroyed, with over 3,124 individuals reported injured in the twin crises.
The Taliban administration has acknowledged the grave situation, with spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announcing that the death toll stood at 1,411, while the United Nations coordinator for Afghanistan warned that this figure would almost certainly continue to rise. Aid groups are now calling for an immediate international response, with Save the Children urging for rapid release of emergency funds to address the critical needs arising from the disaster.
According to Save the Children, access to clean water has been disrupted, raising the alarming risk of disease, while the delivery of food supplies has been severely restricted. “This is now a race against time to save lives,” commented Samira Sayed Rahman, Programmes and Advocacy Director at Save the Children, emphasising the urgency in providing food, water, and shelter for individuals trapped in isolated communities.
The eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar were particularly hard-hit during the initial earthquake. On Tuesday, ambulances lined the already damaged mountain roads as helicopters were deployed to deliver aid and transport the injured to medical facilities. UNICEF also reported that thousands of children are now in peril, necessitating urgent supplies of medicines, warm clothing, tents, and essential hygiene items.
The Taliban’s presence in the region has notably increased, as they attempt to provide both aid and security amidst the chaos. However, this disaster has further stretched an administration already grappling with sharp declines in foreign aid, alongside the deportation of Afghans from neighbouring countries. The World Health Organisation has underscored the additional challenges, warning that the fragile health system in Afghanistan is ill-equipped to cope with such a crisis, leaving the nation entirely reliant on external support.
Despite the dire circumstances, the international response has been cautiously hopeful. Britain has allocated £1 million to support UN and Red Cross efforts, while India has sent tents and food supplies. Multiple nations, including China and the United Arab Emirates, have pledged assistance, but the arrival of aid remains uncertain as aid cuts have been implemented due to political complications and frustrations regarding the Taliban’s governance.