According to a report supported by the UN, a total of $402.9 million is required for the rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts in the western part of Afghanistan, in the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquakes that occurred last year.
The tremors, which hit Herat province on October 7, 11, and 15, 2023, resulted in the death of over 1,500 individuals and injuries to another 2,600.
The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report, a collaborative effort by the UN, World Bank, European Union, and Asian Development Bank, examined nine districts home to approximately 2.2 million people.
The report reveals that the earthquakes caused direct physical damages estimated at $217 million and additional losses close to $80 million.
The sector most impacted was housing, accounting for 41 percent of the total reconstruction needs, equating to $164.4 million.
The earthquakes damaged around 50,000 houses, destroying 13,516 of them. The education sector was also heavily affected, with the report highlighting the disruption faced by 180,000 students and 4,390 teachers.
The agriculture sector, a critical source of employment and income in the region, also experienced significant challenges.
The assessment indicated that the earthquakes affected over 275,000 individuals, including pregnant women, infants, and those with severe disabilities.
These communities, already vulnerable and with limited capacity to withstand multiple crises, were severely impacted.
Herat, in particular, is one of the provinces with a high number of internally displaced persons due to conflict and drought, exacerbating the difficulties in accessing essential services, land, and housing.
The report emphasizes the importance of shifting from immediate humanitarian assistance to a long-term recovery plan. This plan should focus on enhancing community resilience, restoring services, ensuring earthquake-resistant housing, improving social protection, and securing access to basic amenities.
