Helping the victims of the earthquake in Herat

On October 7, 2023, at around 11:00 am local time, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Afghanistan, 40 km from the city of Herat in the west of the country.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the Zindajan district, which was the worst-hit area, with 1,294 dead and 485 missing to date. Over 12,000 people are estimated to have been affected by the quake. 

Today, aftershocks continue to be felt, and local authorities expect the death toll to rise as search and rescue operations continue. Priority needs include access to basic necessities, food assistance, emergency healthcare and improved access to water, hygiene and sanitation. 

Action contre la Faim teams are launching an emergency response in collaboration with its local partner RSDO (Razi Social Development Organisation), with the distribution of basic necessities (kitchen utensils, hygiene items, winter clothes and blankets) and the provision of emergency psychological support for the affected populations. 

In the coming days, Action contre la Faim and RSDO will also be taking part in an on-site assessment with other humanitarian partners to better understand needs and adapt its humanitarian response. 

In Afghanistan, more than 29 million people are in need of humanitarian aid, while the country is frequently hit by earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range, close to the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. 

Action contre la Faim has been active in Afghanistan since 1995, developing projects in five of the country’s provinces. In 2023, 257,771 people benefited from our programs in the fields of health and nutrition, food security and livelihoods, water, sanitation and hygiene, and mental health.