Multiple major earthquakes struck Afghanistan’s Herat Province on Saturday, October 7 and Wednesday, October 11, killing thousands of people and injuring thousands more. The death toll is expected to rise as strong aftershocks continue in the region, making rescue efforts even more difficult. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 100 percent of the homes in Herat Province’s Zindajan district, the epicenter of the earthquake, were destroyed. A third, major earthquake of a 6.3 magnitude struck western Afghanistan on Sunday, October 15.

Our Emergency Response Team immediately reached out to local partner organizations working in the region to offer assistance, including emergency funding to purchase critically needed aid to support survivors. We are also prepared to send urgently needed medicines and relief supplies to supply health workers treating survivors.

“These back-to-back earthquakes have dealt a massive blow to a region where many families were already struggling to cope with a lack of basic necessities, including access to health services” said Americares Director of Complex Emergencies Adam Keehn. “Our No. 1 priority is meeting the most urgent health needs of survivors.”

Americares has a long history of responding to earthquakes all over the world, including the 2023 Türkiye and Syria earthquake, the 2022 earthquake in Afghanistan, the 2015 Nepal earthquake, the 2010 and 2021 earthquakes in Haiti and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Americares has also been providing assistance to Afghanistan since 1986, delivering medicine, medical supplies and relief items in response to emergencies and ongoing needs.