Earthquake in Herat: Urgent Care for Earthquake Victims Needed as Winter Approaches!

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

Homeless people whose homes were destroyed as a result of the Herat earthquake are spending the night in the cold. Among them are children, women, and many pregnant women. We urge the relevant health authorities to provide immediate medical care for pregnant women.

In our letter dated October 9, 2023, we demanded that financial assistance of 100,000 Afghanis per house be paid from the state treasury to the people whose houses were destroyed by the earthquake. We have learned through media reports that a day after our letter, a responsible person from Kabul traveled to Herat and promised to build solid houses for the earthquake victims. In this context, it is worth mentioning that, according to TV reports, a few simple huts were built in the Khost province for homeless people, valued at no more than 100 dollars per hut.

Therefore, we call on the relevant authorities and organizations not to build huts like those in Khost. Instead, they should immediately and urgently construct stable houses with 3 to 4 rooms in solid construction for the earthquake victims. Each house should be equipped with a solar system and have access to a well or tap water. In every earthquake-affected village, new trees should be planted, with the number of trees matching at least the number of people who lost their lives in the earthquake. Of these, 2 trees should be planted at each house, and the rest should be planted along the roadsides. Each residential area should have paved road connections to major cities. Additionally, schools for boys and girls should be built in every residential area.

The families of the victims, whose relatives lost their lives in the earthquake, should receive 70,000 Afghanis per deceased person. Individuals severely injured by the earthquakes are to be compensated with 15,000 Afghani per person. All expenses should be covered from the state treasury.

During the transitional phase until the housing is completed, homeless families, children, women, and pregnant women who have lost their homes due to the earthquake should be accommodated in state facilities. If necessary, the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul and the Dar-ul-Aman Palace should be used as accommodations for the mentioned people. Each family should receive one room. Unmarried men should be accommodated in mosques. During the transitional phase until their houses are completed, families should receive 5,000 Afghanis per month for living expenses. After moving into the new houses, families should continue to receive financial support for their livelihood, amounting to 5,000 Afghanis per family per month for an additional 6 months.

Afghanistan belongs to the Afghan people, and the state treasury of Afghanistan also belongs to the Afghan people.

Best regards,