Earthquake Recovery for Students in Badakhshan

News from students' families after the Badakhshan earthquake traveled slowly. Because of massive damage to telecommunications infrastructure and the isolation of the affected areas, weeks passed without a word. As soon as we received the first set of funds from GlobalGiving, a team of AAE staff headed up the mountains of the Hindu Kush into the Khash district of Badakhshan. 

Thirteen families in Khash received the donations you generously provided. Thankfully, all of AAE's students are safe, but some of their family members were not as lucky. Some of the families had to pay for funerals for loved ones lost in the earthquake. Nearly everyone's house was either badly damaged or destroyed, so many families chose to use the money to begin rebuilding their houses and buy food. Those whose houses were destroyed are either living with relatives or in tents. 

Khash district is among the most remote parts of Afghanistan, nestled away in the mountains far from the cities. In fact, AAE was the first organization to reach these families-- large international aid organizations had not yet made it to such isolated areas.  

But on the cusp of what is expected to be a bitter winter, we cannot forget the residents of Khash. No one else is acting, and few organizations know Khash and Afghanistan like us. AAE-- and you, in particular-- seem to be the only hope for the people of Khash.