Support and Protect Families in Afghanistan

Just before midnight on Sunday, August 31^st in Afghanistan’s Kunar, Nuristan, Panjshir, and Nangarhar provinces, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake brought homes, schools, and hospitals crumbling to the ground. Five aftershocks then rippled through the region, followed by another earthquake on Tuesday evening.

These shocks have now killed, injured, and displaced thousands of people. Rather than sleeping in the safety of their homes, families are now sleeping outdoors, fearful that another tremor will suddenly collapse their shelter and trap them beneath the rubble.

The HALO Trust has not hesitated to jump into action with medical and evacuation support. Within 24 hours, our Quick Response teams rescued seven people, including two children, in critical condition. Equipped with vehicles that can be outfitted as ambulances, years of experience responding to natural disasters, and relationships with critical authorities, HALO teams are now hard at work on the ground in Afghanistan providing medical support and evacuations.

As our colleagues comb the rubble and care for the injured, they are facing many challenges. Heavy rains before the initial earthquake left many roads almost completely impassable, and once the shocks hit, it became even harder for survivors, supplies, or medical personnel to get in or out. This is Afghanistan’s third earthquake in three years, and resources are stretched thin for the millions of people already facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

While many international organizations have left Afghanistan, HALO is still here. And we are fiercely determined to help as many people as we can. With your support, we can evacuate survivors, support hospitals, and reach communities.

Links:

• Hear from Dr. Farid, HALO Afghanistan Country Director