Kabul (4 November 2015) - Following joint assessments to identify the worst hit areas by the 7.5 magnitude earthquake on October 26th, CARE started delivering emergency relief assistance yesterday to affected families. As of November 3rd, an estimated 9,703 houses were damaged and 5,612 houses were destroued by the earthquake (OCHA).
“With winter approaching, families without proper shelter face major problems” says Christina Northey, CARE’s country director in Afghanistan. “Half-destroyed houses will collapse with snow and freezing temperatures, potentially causing further causalities. The current situation in earthquake affected areas only worsens the conditions for families who were already vulnerable and marginalized by poverty.”
One Afghan father told CARE: “I have a big family of 15, including ten children and my parents. I am a poor shopkeeper and I’m not able to rebuild my house and buy assets and foods for coming winter. I need assistance from the government and other organizations. Thank God my family members are safe, but my children are scared as you can see the worries in their faces.”
The greatest needs right now are shelter, food, warm clothes, fire wood, house assets and psychological support. CARE started distributing crucial relief items yesterday to 98 households in central Afghanistan, including tents, solar lamps, blankets, cooking sets, hygiene kits, stove lighter and shovels, giving priority to women, disabled and elderly.
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