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Help for Afghanistan: Earthquake victims need our support now!
Viennese help earthquake victims in Afghanistan: Over 800 dead after 6.0 degree quake. Calls for donations and aid organizations are active.
Help for Afghanistan: Earthquake victims need our support now!
A devastating earthquake caused tragedy in the Afghan province of Kunar shortly before midnight on Sunday evening. With a magnitude of 6.0, the quake has already killed more than 800 people and over 2,800 injured people are currently in need of treatment, with many of them still trapped under the rubble. These shocking figures come from various media reports, including MeinBezirk and Bluewin.
The destruction is widespread; Entire villages were razed to the ground by the violent tremors. The disaster is compounded by heavy rains and floods that have made many mountainous areas inaccessible and are hampering emergency relief efforts. In recent years, Afghanistan has hardly developed any stable building formats due to decades of conflict, meaning that many mud and stone houses could not withstand the earthquakes. Another devastating series of earthquakes occurred on October 7, 2023, claiming over 1,500 lives, and in 2022, another earthquake killed more than 1,000 people.
Help urgently needed
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has become even more precarious as a result of these disasters. Organizations such as Caritas Austria are calling for donations in order to be able to provide immediate help. Particular emphasis is placed on the local partners who are necessary to bring help to the site quickly and in a targeted manner. There are no known fundraisers in Vienna, but there are various ways to provide financial support:
- Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz: IBAN: AT57 2011 1400 1440 0144, BIC: GIBAATWWXXX, Kennwort: „Katastrophenhilfe“
- Caritas Österreich: IBAN: AT23 2011 1000 0123 4560, Kennwort: „Katastrophenfonds“
- CARE Österreich: IBAN: A577 6000 0000 0123 600
- World Vision Österreich: IBAN: AT22 2011 1800 8008 1800, Kennwort: „Katastrophenhilfe“
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) also expressed concern about the humanitarian consequences of this earthquake, as the region's geological features have already made it vulnerable to tremors in the past. The Federal Agency for Civic Education reports that the rural Zindajan district was particularly hard hit by the last earthquake.
International reactions and outlook
The international community is responding to the crisis. Iran offered support and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences to the victims and their families. Given the catastrophic situation, the number of people in need of assistance in Afghanistan was already high before these disasters. Estimates suggest that 29.2 million people are in urgent need of assistance simply because the humanitarian situation has steadily worsened in recent years.
The future challenges are immense, as Afghanistan has few resources to deal with the consequences of such disasters. In addition, winter is just around the corner and temperatures in the mountains are falling below freezing point. Over 100,000 survivors will reportedly need help to get through the winter months. The lack of financial support and international sanctions are only making the situation worse.
It is time for the people of Vienna to show their solidarity and help the affected people in Afghanistan. Every donation counts and can help bring valuable lifesavers to Afghanistan.