Afghanistan: World Vision expresses deep concern for hundreds of thousands of Afghans impacted by powerful earthquake, at least 950 dead

KABUL (June 22, 2022) — World Vision, one of the leading aid agencies working in Afghanistan for the past two decades, has expressed fears over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan in the wake of the powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake that has devastated two southeastern provinces of Afghanistan, Paktika and Khost, in the early morning of June 22, which has killed at least 1,000 people.

“We are deeply concerned about the devastation that this earthquake causes in a country already in the grips of extreme poverty, drought and a worsening political, economic and security situation. This will further impact hundreds of thousands of already vulnerable people in the country and add to their suffering,” said Larisa Klepac, acting national director of World Vision in Afghanistan.

“This earthquake is just the latest disaster in a country that is facing mass starvation and economic collapse. The area where the earthquake happened is in a remote part of the east of the country where our humanitarian peers and partners work,” Klepac added.

According to latest reports, at least 1,000 people are confirmed dead, with 600 injured and entire villages destroyed. Helicopters are currently trying to carry injured people to hospitals located in other provinces. The numbers of dead and injured are rising as residents try to pull survivors and victims from ruined homes and buildings across four districts of Paktika and one district of Khost Provinces. The earthquake was also felt in Kabul; however, no casualties have been reported there.

“The already limited capacity of Afghanistan’s healthcare system adds further concern,” continued Klepac. “The hospitals and medical centers are  inundated with patients injured by today’s earthquake. With over half of the population of Afghanistan living in poverty and over 20 million food-insecure, the humanitarian crisis here is already out of control, and thousands of families here are once again devastated by another event beyond their control. We call on the government and international donors to rapidly scale funding and operational support for continued life-saving work.

“While World Vision’s work is focused on the west of the country, where we are undertaking emergency food assistance to keep hundreds of thousands of people alive, children in Afghanistan face multiple challenges which all require increased funding support. We pray for the children caught up in this terrible earthquake and for those responsible for that region and who are rushing to their aid.”

About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/media-center/ or on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.