Disaster Fund: Urgent Relief Aid for Herat Earthquake Victims 

On October 7th, a terrible earthquake of 6.3 M hit western Afghanistan on Saturday at 12:09 PM Afghanistan time, leaving considerable destruction and a tragic death toll. According to local authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO), around 2,400 - yet counting - individuals have lost their lives, while over 11,585 people in Zindajan, Injil, Gulran, Kohsan, and Kushk districts have been affected. The Taliban officials reported that over 10 villages, including Kushk, Naieb Rafi, and Sia Arab in the Zindajan district, were impacted significantly, leaving many people trapped under the debris. The epicenter of this disaster was just 25 miles west of Herat city in the western Herat province, the third-largest in Afghanistan (United States Geological Survey). Nearly 500 homes are completely gone, and 135 buildings are damaged, as reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA ). 

In this moment of despair, Aseel’s emergency campaign has raised $15,864 so far to purchase and distribute emergency supplies to the survivors needing the most. However, to help every victim, Aseel requires additional donations and assistance from everyone around the world. Every dollar donated to this campaign will make an immediate impact. No matter how small, it can change someone's life in these tough times.

 What does this package offer?

For only $200, this emergency package provides essential help to the victim families of five to eight people for at least five weeks. It ensures the survivors have an immediate housing solution: a tent, cooking essentials, hygiene items, and a cash of 50 USD during this difficult time.

Why is it essential for Aseel to have the potential to provide rapid aid response in times of emergency? 

Hundreds of people were killed in the tragic events that occurred at the beginning of 2022, leaving thousands of families without a primary means of support. With the death of their primary breadwinners, many families have been overlooked and are in severe need of financial aid. The injured persons are unable to work, some temporarily and others permanently, causing substantial financial burden owing to medical expenditures and disability. Many households do not have any savings and struggle to cover their everyday needs.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, and floods occurring in many provinces of Afghanistan since 2022 resulted in the displacement of hundreds of families, causing them to lose their homes and earnings. These families do not have financial security or assistance to help them get through the crisis. The victims can be supported (to a degree) by disaster relief efforts that provide food, shelter, and medical packages or a tailor-made package that meets their basic needs. Through the disaster fund, Aseel can provide immediate assistance, bypassing the delays associated with fundraising that can take days or hours. Having readily available reserve funds is crucial and can be life-saving during distress.

Right now, Aseel volunteers are on the ground, waiting anxiously to help those affected by this earthquake. Your donation will make an immediate impact. No matter how small, it can change someone's life in these tough times.

Why is it essential for Aseel to have the potential to provide rapid aid response in times of emergency? 

The unfortunate events from the start of 2022 took hundreds of lives. Most of the victims were breadwinners for their families, and their families were entirely dependent on their earnings. With their loss, the families have been left unattended to, in dire need of financial support. The wounded ones are also unable to work. Some temporarily and some for a long time. The injuries and disabilities, again, have adverse financial impacts on them and their families. In addition, the families have been left to pay costs towards treating their wounded or to pay for funeral costs. Most of these families have no savings, or they make enough to meet one day’s expenses.

We have had natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, and floods in different provinces in Afghanistan with the changes in climate. It affects hundreds of families every year and forces them into displacement and loss of home and earnings. Again these families have no financial security or aid to help them through the crisis. The victims of the above disasters can be supported (albeit to a degree) with the help of a disaster fund. This can be done with our existing food, shelter and medical packages or a tailor-made package fit to meet the specific needs. Having a disaster fund will allow us to provide support with immediate effect rather than days and hours of fundraising as reserve funds could be crucial and life-saving in times of emergency.