The earthquake that struck the city of Herat in northwestern Afghanistan has once again shaken the region. This 6.3 magnitude earthquake, which occurred on Sunday morning, caused significant damage and injured at least 50 people.
This new event adds to a series of tremors that have affected the region in recent weeks. Indeed, Herat has already been the scene of a devastating earthquake which cost the lives of more than a thousand people. Since then, the population has lived in constant fear of new tremors, and many residents prefer to sleep outside as a safety measure.
Local authorities, as well as national relief agencies, are currently assessing the extent of the damage caused by this latest earthquake. Many rural villages were completely destroyed, and more than 12,000 people were affected by the various earthquakes.
This situation is all the more worrying as Afghanistan is going through a serious humanitarian crisis. The country, already weakened by the withdrawal of foreign aid, must now face the reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed by the earthquakes. The approach of winter further complicates the situation, with an urgent need to provide shelter to the affected population.
The Taliban authorities, who took power in August 2021, face a major challenge in dealing with this crisis. Their tense relationship with international aid organizations makes it difficult to coordinate relief efforts and deliver needed aid.
Afghanistan is an earthquake-prone region due to its geographic position, near the junction between the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. Earthquakes are common there, but this one particularly struck people with its intensity and the damage it caused.
It is essential that the international community mobilizes to support Afghanistan during this difficult period. There is an urgent need to provide effective humanitarian aid to meet the immediate needs of the population affected by the earthquakes and to rebuild destroyed infrastructure.
In conclusion, the recent earthquakes in Herat, Afghanistan, have once again highlighted the region’s vulnerability to these natural disasters. It is crucial that the Taliban authorities and international aid organizations work together to respond to the urgent needs of the population and to ensure strong and sustainable reconstruction. International solidarity is essential to overcome this crisis and to support Afghanistan in its transition period.