Afghan Earthquake Survivors Face Aid Cuts, Taliban Challenges One Year On

Photo: AP

KABUL, Afghanistan — In the early moments of October 7, 2023, the ground shook violently in Herat province, unleashing a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that sent shockwaves of terror through the region. As the earth cracked open, families had mere seconds to escape their homes, with the devastating tremors reverberating through their lives. The scale of the disaster remains uncertain, with the Taliban government estimating at least 4,000 fatalities, while the United Nations reports around 1,500 deaths. Many survivors, exhausted from the frantic efforts to rescue loved ones or bury the dead, have stopped counting.

This earthquake stands as one of the deadliest natural disasters in Afghanistan's recent history and has presented a formidable challenge for the Taliban, who have governed the country since 2021. The disaster has tested their capacity to lead in a nation already burdened by economic strife, isolation, and the lingering scars of decades of conflict, all while remaining vulnerable to natural disasters and the effects of climate change.

In the immediate aftermath, local resident Ismatullah Rahmani described a moment of grim cooperation from the Taliban government. “At that time, the government really cooperated in transporting patients and the dead,” he recounted. Rahmani, who lost both his brother and nephew in the quake, spent hours digging through rubble to free his wife, who ultimately survived after being trapped under 1.5 meters of soil.

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During those first crucial days, the Taliban opened hospitals and provided food and water at no cost. “They went to camps and helped survivors over several months, a blessing ahead of the harsh Herat winter,” Rahmani said from his new home in Zinda Jan district, where every structure, typically made of mud and timber, was flattened.

However, as the weeks turned into months, the initial wave of aid dwindled. “After that, our aid stopped,” Rahmani noted, highlighting a growing reliance on charitable organizations for ongoing support. While NGOs stepped in to construct temporary housing, many of these structures lacked basic amenities. The makeshift accommodations often had no walls for privacy and were ill-equipped to withstand the harsh weather, with bathrooms that were sometimes roofless.

In Naib Rafi village, Rahmani lamented the absence of essential services like health clinics and schools, leaving children to learn in tents without proper facilities. “The government didn’t provide financial assistance,” he stated, noting that senior officials made sporadic visits, listened to grievances, but ultimately left without offering tangible support.

Ahmadullah Muttaqi, spokesperson for the Herat Earthquake Commission, acknowledged the ongoing challenges. He mentioned that authorities were collaborating with charities and NGOs to deliver shelter and medical aid. “People’s problems haven’t been solved, of course, but the first necessity is building houses until they stand on their own feet. They have been given food and hospitals are still working,” he said, adding that efforts to rebuild mosques, schools, and public spaces were underway.

Despite these initiatives, he did not address questions regarding the government’s preparedness for future disasters. The ongoing crisis in Afghanistan was compounded by dwindling foreign aid. Long before the earthquake, Afghans were grappling with displacement, food insecurity, and poverty, and the disaster further strained an already fragile public service system. Aid organizations, which had been providing critical support to healthcare and education, found their resources stretched thinner than ever.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) set up feeding corners in the aftermath of the quake, aiming to provide safe spaces for mothers to breastfeed while receiving nutritional counseling. They also repaired water systems and distributed emergency cash, hygiene kits, and mental health support to thousands. However, the IRC emphasized that such aid is finite, especially in a world facing multiple crises that divert attention and resources.

International funding for Afghanistan has fallen short, receiving less than a third of its target amid changing political landscapes and global conflicts. Widespread opposition to the Taliban's policies regarding women and girls has further complicated the situation. Mark Calder from World Vision International remarked, “There is donor fatigue, for sure, but perhaps the bigger problem is a nervousness from many donors about supporting anything but the most urgent life-saving aid.”

Amid these challenges, fears of future disasters loom large. The local authorities in Herat have struggled to meet the humanitarian needs of the population, and damaged infrastructure has hindered recovery efforts. The reliance on aid organizations for basic necessities like healthcare and shelter has left communities vulnerable.

Gul Ahmad Osmani, who lost four of his children in the quake, vividly recalled the horror of hearing screams from beneath the rubble. “It was impossible to pull them out,” he said, his grief palpable. His surviving family spent the harsh winter living in a tent. “The government took care of us, keeping my wife and children in a camp, but we didn’t see anything from the government that was specifically from them, like flour, cooking oil, or rice. Our own people brought food for several days.”

Although aid had initially flooded in from across the country, it has now been nearly six months since any NGOs or well-wishers visited the residents of Zinda Jan. Recently, a kind doctor from Baghlan province donated some funds, but Osmani expressed concern over the continued risks. “There are still earthquakes, and these new houses are heavy. Children are afraid. The help for the earthquake did not help us,” he lamented.

As winter approaches once more, the outlook remains grim for those still grappling with the aftermath of this disaster, highlighting the urgent need for sustained support and a comprehensive recovery strategy that addresses both immediate needs and long-term resilience against future calamities.

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