Three devastating earthquakes in Afghanistan's Herat province have further strained the Herat regional hospital, pushing pre-existing issues of malnutrition, poverty, and inadequate medical resources to a tragic state. The initial 6.3 magnitude earthquake and two horrific aftershocks have claimed over 3,000 lives, The Washington Post reported.
Despite the Taliban's claim of transferring survivors to the hospital, reports reveal that Taliban fighters are blocking streets leading to the hospital, impeding access to medical aid and prompting violence against those seeking assistance. Entire communities face decimation, with more than 400 houses collapsing in one village, as disclosed by a senior Taliban official.
The AP reported that 90% of reported casualties were women and children, according to U.N. officials. With the Zenda Jan district at the epicenter, gender disparities persist, and orphanages are scarce, leaving children to be taken in by surviving relatives.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) issued a plea for global attention and aid, emphasizing the urgency as people from over 2,000 villages abandon homes, fearing further calamity. Despite the mass exodus, those at the hospital, including patients, families, and medical staff, find themselves with nowhere to go. The IFRC warns against Afghanistan becoming another tragic addition to its extensive list.
The U.N. responded with support, providing tents for the unsafe maternity hospital, ambulances, solar lamps, hygiene kits, and 81 tons of food for displaced families. However, many in Herat's provincial capital are still sleeping outside despite dropping temperatures, underscoring the urgent need for sustained global assistance.
Afghanistan's seismic activity is linked to tectonic plates, and a U.N. report warns of potential gaps in earthquake preparedness for women due to Taliban restrictions. While female Afghan staff members from aid agencies currently operate freely in Herat, societal challenges persist.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Steve Collender
Video Credit: AP Archive via YouTube
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