Emergency care after the earthquake in Afghanistan

Afghanistan | 2022 | CBPF

Afghanistan, Paktika province. On 22 June 2022, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Paktika and Khost provinces at about 1:30 am local time. The quake was felt as far away as Pakistan, India and Iran. More than 100,000 people needed emergency humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of the quake.

Among those affected by the earthquake was Mohammad Gul, a resident of Gayan District in Paktika. He experienced devastating loss as both his wife and baby niece were killed in the quake, and his daughter Bakshoba was severely injured the next day, in an aftershock.

Bakshoba received emergency trauma care. An International Medical Corps ambulance arrived and took her to the nearby trauma center where she was treated alongside many other injured people.

Her father was able to take her for follow-up care for her injuries, as well as for psychological support to help deal with the trauma of the earthquake. “Our community is in a very distant part of the province,” explains Mohammed. “What would have happened to us if this clinic had not been here?”

Thanks to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund’s support, International Medical Corps has been able to provide earthquake-affected communities in Gayan District with critical resources including medicines, ambulances, and a dedicated team offering trauma care and psychosocial support.

For more information on the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, access the Pooled Fund Data Hub