KABUL, Afghanistan (November 4, 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 destroyed 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.
About CARE Afghanistan: CARE is an independent and impartial humanitarian organization working to bring positive change in the lives of poor people in Afghanistan. CARE began working in Afghanistan in 1961, suspended activities after the Russian invasion of 1979 and resumed operations in1989. Today CARE collaborates with communities on education and rural livelihoods programs throughout Afghanistan and provides humanitarian relief when disaster strikes.
About CARE: Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. Last year CARE worked in 90 countries and reached more than 72 million people around the world. To learn more, visit www.care.org.