Afghanistan Earthquake: Rescuers Struggle to Reach Survivors Amidst Aftershocks

Kabul: As access to Afghanistan’s earthquake-ravaged areas remains obstructed, the government has deployed commandos by air to rescue survivors from the rubble. Days after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, rescue teams are still struggling to reach survivors as Wednesday night approaches.

According to Deutsche Welle, dozens of commandos were airdropped at sites where helicopters could not land, assisting in carrying the injured to safety. On Tuesday evening, a second earthquake measuring 5.5 in magnitude struck, causing panic and disrupting ongoing rescue efforts. Aftershocks have led to rockfalls, further hindering access to already isolated villages and forcing families to remain outdoors due to the fear of their damaged homes collapsing.

Save the Children, a non-governmental organization, reported that one of its aid teams “had to walk for 20 kilometers (12 miles) to reach villages cut off by rockfalls, carrying medical equipment on their backs with the help of community members.” According to ActionAid, more than 12,000 people have been directly affected by the earthquake, with women and girls being particularly vulnerable due to the steep restrictions they face under the Taliban authorities.

Meanwhile, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Wednesday of a potential food shortage. “Four weeks is just not enough even to meet the basic, essential needs of the population struck by the earthquake, let alone put the victims on a path back to rebuilding their lives,” John Aylieff, the head of WFP in Afghanistan, told Reuters. UN financial data indicates that WFP funding for Afghanistan this year is just under $300 million, a significant decrease from $1.7 billion in 2022, the first full year under Taliban rule.

The UN reports that 64% of Afghanistan’s 41.5 million people live in poverty. Of these, 50% rely on humanitarian aid for survival, and 14% suffer from acute hunger.