Rubble from destruction in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck the Herat province, Afghanistan. Photo: CRS

Afghanistan Earthquake

Your support is urgently needed as Afghanistan reels from a devastating earthquake, compounding decades of crises.

On October 7, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Herat province, resulting in over 2,000 deaths with a second taking place just outside of Herat on October 11, and yet a third on October 15. Thousands more have been injured and many have been displaced by this series of earthquakes. Buildings have been damaged and destroyed, and hospitals overwhelmed. This disaster has exacerbated an already difficult situation in Afghanistan following decades of conflict and poverty, with scarce resources coming under even more pressure.

Our partners are responding to urgent basic needs and providing cash assistance to families. The immediate response includes:

Emergency Shelter

Access to Clean Water

Food and Other Essentials

Medical Supplies

People surveying the damage from the earthquake that struck the Herat province, Afghanistan. Photo: CRS

Donate now

I would like to give

$65 $155 $325 $1,000

can provide families with emergency packs, containing household essentials

Other amount

Can provide warm blankets to families living in a refugee camp

Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible

Afghanistan was already suffering combined factors of economic collapse, political instability and long-term drought, which have left the people of Afghanistan already in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Two-thirds of households find it difficult to meet basic food and non-food needs.

CRS, our partner in Afghanistan, is already supporting vulnerable communities by providing:

Training on livestock management practices to help reduce disease, improve livestock health and increase milk production.
Education for many of the most marginalised children in rural Afghanistan.
- Access to education for thousands of children.
- Advanced learning programs for older, out-of-school children.

Your generous donation today means our partners in Afghanistan can respond quickly and efficiently to support vulnerable communities.

DONATE NOW

Afghanistan Facts

*source: UNHCR/World Bank

97% of the population

are being pushed into extreme poverty

24.4 million people

are in need of humanitarian assistance

Two thirds of households

find it difficult to meet basic food and non-food needs

Afghanistan is experiencing crises compounding crises, and the situation could not be more dire for vulnerable communities. It is vital that people of compassion and the international community take action to help families impacted by poverty, food insecurity, and lack of access to essentials.

Melville Fernandez, Humanitarian Emergencies Associate Director, Caritas Australia

Without urgent action, the current humanitarian crisis could lead to more deaths than during the war. Your urgent support is needed now.

donate now

Children looking at the damage from the earthquake that struck the Herat province, Afghanistan. Photo: CRS

Where does my donation go?

The funds raised through this appeal will be used to provide immediate and longer-term humanitarian and development assistance to communities affected by crises in Afghanistan. If any excess funds remain after a crisis, or if there are changes in circumstances beyond our control that limit our ability to use the funds, they are kept in the Emergency Response Appeal so that we can respond to ongoing development needs and future crises across all our regions.