Afghanistan: Revised Herat Earthquake Response Plan October 2023 - March 2024 (November 2023) [EN/Dari/PS]

Overview

This multi-sectoral Herat Earthquake Response Plan requires approximately $173 million to support 275,000 earthquake-affected people in Herat. Assistance is urgently required to address the critical, time-sensitive needs of the most vulnerable populations throughout the winter months in earthquake affected areas. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, affected families are in urgent need of temporary shelter, food and cash assistance, safe water and WASH supplies, as well as emergency healthcare and protection. With the harsh winter months fast approaching, families will need transitional shelter assistance, winter clothing, warm blankets, and heating materials to avert exposure to extremely cold temperatures.

The humanitarian needs, response activities, and financial requirements outlined in this response plan will be incorporated into the forthcoming 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan. This earthquake response plan also acknowledges the important role that basic human needs actors will need to play in providing longer-term recovery support to affected households, and thus focuses on the provision of immediate, life-saving assistance.

Context and Needs Overview

Between 7 and 15 October three powerful (6.3 magnitude) earthquakes struck Herat Province, affecting 1.6 million people with high intensity shaking (MMI 6+) and leaving thousands of people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Based on the latest assessment findings, a total of 48,347 families, comprising more than 275,000 people in 382 villages were directly affected by a series of seismic events on 7, 11 and 15 October.

The affected villages are situated in the districts of Herat, Injil, Kushk, Zindajan, Gulran, Guzara, Ghoryan, Karukh, and Kohsan in Herat Province, with Injil and Zindajan districts worst affected. Approximately one-third of all earthquake-affected people are in Injil, with the majority of the more than 3,330 destroyed homes located in Zindajan.

The devastation caused by these earthquakes has been substantial, with 10,002 houses completely destroyed, 20,430 houses severely damaged, and 17,588 houses moderately damaged. As a result, a significant portion of the affected population, approximately 37,139 families, are now forced to live in makeshift tents and open spaces, while 8,801 families have resorted to tent shelters as temporary solutions and another 1,268 families residing in informal settlements, leaving them vulnerable to weather, health and other protection hazards. Schools, health facilities, and other infrastructure were also impacted by the earthquakes, with 21,300 buildings estimated to have sustained damage, including 40 health facilities and 144 schools.

The earthquakes have struck vulnerable communities – which are already grappling with decades of conflict and under-development – and left them with little resilience to cope with multiple, simultaneous shocks. They come at the start of Afghanistan’s lean season and immediately before winter, when households’ food resources are most constrained or depleted. Extensive damage to water and sanitation points has raised concerns of disease outbreaks, particularly acute watery diarrhea (AWD). Immediate investment into activities to detect and prevent the spread of AWD and other infectious diseases will be critical. With damage to schools and community-based education facilities, children need to safely resume education. Protection support is also needed, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.