Poll: Rescue Speed Top Priority in Kunar Quake Response

DID Press: A recent survey conducted by DID Press on earthquake crisis management in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces shows the public sees speeding up rescue operations and delivering immediate aid as the highest priority.

According to the findings, 62% of respondents believe emergency rescue efforts—particularly locating and saving people trapped under debris—must come first in critical hours following the earthquake.

Meanwhile, 13% emphasized the urgent need for food aid and temporary shelters for those displaced by the disaster, stressing that many survivors have lost both their homes and access to basic supplies.

Interestingly, none of the respondents (0%) identified medical services and hospital transfers for the injured as the top priority, arguing instead that rescuing trapped victims takes precedence at the earliest stages.

Additionally, 25% of participants highlighted the importance of long-term planning, reconstruction, and preventive measures to reduce future casualties and limit damage in the event of similar disasters.

The poll underscores the public’s call for immediate action to save lives, alongside strategic planning to ensure better preparedness for natural disasters in the future.