Afghanistan deployed special forces via airdrop on Wednesday to rescue survivors trapped under debris in the mountainous regions of the east following devastating earthquakes that have claimed the lives of 1,400 people. The initial earthquake, measuring 6 in magnitude, caused widespread destruction in the provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar when it struck late Sunday night at a shallow depth of 10 km.
A subsequent earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 on Tuesday evening triggered panic and hindered ongoing rescue operations by causing rockslides and blocking access to remote villages. Commando units are being airlifted to areas inaccessible by helicopters to assist in moving the injured to safety, as reported by Ehsanullah Ehsan, the head of disaster management in Kunar.
Efforts are being coordinated at a camp to distribute essential supplies and emergency aid, with two centers overseeing the transportation of the injured, burial of the deceased, and the retrieval of survivors. Helicopters have been utilized to transport the wounded to hospitals, facing challenges posed by rugged terrain and adverse weather conditions.
The current toll stands at 1,411 deaths, 3,124 injuries, and over 5,400 homes destroyed, according to the Taliban administration. The United Nations has expressed concerns that the casualty count may escalate as more individuals are trapped under the rubble.
In Kunar province, entire families have been wiped out in some villages, with survivors desperately searching for loved ones, transporting bodies on makeshift stretchers, and conducting burials. The dire situation is worsening for survivors, particularly women and children, as highlighted by Ruhila Mateen from the humanitarian organization Aseel.
The earthquakes have exacerbated the challenges faced by an already struggling nation of 42 million people, which has received limited international assistance post-disaster. The country’s vulnerability has been exacerbated by funding cuts to foreign aid and donor reservations over the Taliban’s policies, further isolating Afghanistan.
The earthquakes exposed the vulnerability of flimsy and poorly constructed homes, which provided little protection against the tremors in ground destabilized by heavy rainfall. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has emphasized the urgent need for emergency shelter, food supplies, sanitation facilities, medical resources, and other essential items to support the affected population.
Doctors without Borders (MSF) has highlighted the critical need for more humanitarian aid, as hospitals in the affected areas were already operating at full capacity prior to the disaster. Dr. Fazal Hadi, MSF’s deputy medical coordinator in Afghanistan, reported shortages of supplies and overcrowded healthcare facilities.
Afghanistan is prone to devastating earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates poses a constant threat to the region.