Update: 25.06.2022

Afghanistan Earthquake Emergency

On Wednesday 22nd June, at 01.30 local time, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck the mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, with the epicentre in the Paktika province while most people were asleep.

The epicentre was in the Paktika province. The latest reports show more than 1,300 deaths and more than 1500 people injured. The earthquake destroyed homes and infrastructure, leaving families without shelter or access to essential services.

Islamic Relief’s emergency response team is distributing food parcels to families in Afghanistan’s Paktika province who were made homeless by Wednesday’s deadly earthquake.

In one village the team met survivors and heard how nine people from a single family, including four young children, were killed. They were asleep in their house when the earthquake struck in the middle of the night.

Islamic Relief is responding in Barmal district, which is one of the worst affected areas and has received little aid so far. Access to the area has been extremely challenging due to the remote, mountainous location and heavy rains. The Islamic Relief team is aiming to deliver vital food supplies to more than 2,000 families over the coming days.

The situation right now:

• On Wednesday 22^nd June, at 01.30 local time, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck the mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, with the epicentre in the Paktika province. Latest media reports indicate more than 1300 fatalities, hundreds injured, and more than 1500 people injured
• At least 1300 people have been killed, with over 1500 injured– the death toll is expected to rise as more information becomes available
• Hundreds of houses and public buildings have been destroyed, and are reduced to rubble
• IR Afghanistan has mobilised its emergency response team who arrived in Paktika province, a remote and hard to reach area, which is several hours drive from Kabul
• For now, the main needs have been identified as food, clean water and sanitation facilities and emergency shelter
• The earthquake is Afghanistan’s deadliest in two decades and poses a new test for the country’s government and relief agencies already struggling with the country’s multiple humanitarian crises

The earthquake is certain to make what is already one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises even worse. Afghanistan is struggling in the face of an economic crisis and sanctions, with spiralling food prices, record unemployment and a critical shortage of cash. 24 million people, more than half of the population, are now in need of humanitarian aid and malnutrition among children is rising as most families cannot afford enough food. Islamic Relief is calling on the international community to help provide emergency aid but also work to address Afghanistan’s economic collapse.