Humanitarian Aid Shortages: Quake Survivors in Afghanistan Face Shelter Crisis ahead of Winter

DID Press: One month after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has warned of a severe shortage of resources, saying that ongoing aid efforts remain insufficient. With winter approaching, the situation for tens of thousands of affected families is expected to worsen.

In a statement released on Thursday, the IFRC reported that despite continuous efforts to provide healthcare, food, cash assistance, and temporary shelter to around 90,000 people, the overall aid levels remain inadequate. Thousands of families remain homeless, living in makeshift tents or exposed to the elements, with many of their homes and infrastructure completely destroyed by magnitude 6 earthquake.

The humanitarian organization highlighted that essential needs for a large portion of the survivors remain unmet, leaving them vulnerable to the harsh winter conditions that are fast approaching.

In remote mountainous areas, particularly in districts where roads have been severely damaged, the situation is reported to be even more dire. Access to these regions remains extremely challenging, and local authorities, along with the Afghan Red Crescent and the IFRC, continue to face significant obstacles in delivering aid.

As the weather conditions worsen, experts warn that lack of shelter, clean water, and adequate nutrition can result in further loss of life, particularly among the most vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly.