RASC News Agency: The Associated Press has reported that the survivors of last year’s devastating earthquake in Herat province, western Afghanistan, are still grappling with severe hardships, as both the Taliban and international relief efforts have failed to adequately address their needs. The report highlights that families affected by the earthquake, particularly in Zindajan district, have voiced their dissatisfaction, stating that the Taliban have shown little concern for their suffering, while the assistance from humanitarian organizations has been both insufficient and poorly distributed.
Local residents expressed frustration, noting that although some aid had been provided, it was neither enough nor effectively delivered to the communities in need. The exact death toll from the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck on October 7, 2023, followed by severe aftershocks, remains unclear. The Taliban have claimed that at least 4,000 people lost their lives, while the United Nations estimated the death toll to be around 1,500.
This earthquake ranks as one of the deadliest natural disasters in Afghanistan’s recent history. According to the AP report, Esmatullah Rahmani, a survivor from the epicenter in the village of Zindajan, recounted: “At that time, the Taliban helped transport the wounded and the deceased.” In the aftermath, every clay and wooden house in the village was completely destroyed. Rahmani lost both his brother and nephew, and spent hours rescuing his wife, who was trapped beneath 1.5 meters of rubble. Fortunately, she survived.
However, Rahmani noted that this assistance was short-lived, as support dwindled shortly thereafter. Residents explained that while people from neighboring cities and provinces initially arrived to help clear debris and bury the dead, for the past six months, no non-governmental organizations or charitable bodies have come forward to aid the people of Zindajan. The report further emphasizes that the situation for the displaced remains dire, with the Taliban offering no meaningful support to those left homeless by the disaster.
