Situation:
With more assessments completed over the weekend, there has been a significant increase in the verified number of affected people and property damaged. Based on these reports (as at 1 November), the earthquake has resulted in 126 fatalities, 489 people were injured, 6,284 houses damaged and 4,665 houses destroyed in a total of 15 provinces. Verified reports indicate that Kunar, Takhar and Nangarhar Provinces have been hardest hit in terms of fatalities, with 36, 28 and 23 respectively. Recent unverified reports have begun to indicate earthquake impact in Samangan Province of the Northern Region. Reported property damage remains most extensive in Badakhshan and includes damage too three schools and three mosques in Baghlan Province. Preliminary reports from Badakhshan Province indicate 13 schools completely destroyed and 28 schools partially damaged (please refer to the map titled “Schools damaged or destroyed in Badakhshan Province”).
Assessments:
72% of the approximately 1,356 villages to be assessed, have been completed in the affected areas. Those villages that remain to be assessed are typically in topographically and / or security affected areas. Notwithstanding these difficulties, data provided by the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) includes reporting from seven earthquake affected villages in the insecure districts of Samangan Province situated near the provincial border with Baghlan.
Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) has been reviewing access in the province in addition to insecure areas such as Kamdesh and Bargai Matal in Nuristan Province. Assessments of government buildings in the capital of Kabul, which were cracked during the quake, will be carried out by the Kabul Municipality and Ministry of Urban Development.
Response:
Field reports and assessment results indicate 78,853 people are in need of assistance. As of 01 November, 5,099 people have received food (out of 58,590 people in need), 9,124 people have received shelter assistance (out of 41,433 people in need) and 12,260 people have received NFI assistance (out of 61, 509 people in need).
The ANDMA has indicated that the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) has released AFN 51 million AFN (USD7.9 million) for the emergency response, an increase over previously reported amounts. Of that amount, AFN10 million has already been dispersed to Badakhshan, AFN 9 million to Kunar, AFN 6 million to Nangarhar and some AFN 2 million to lesser impacted provinces. The GIRoA’s response activities are reported to include the disbursement of cash rental subsidies for up to five months for families whose homes have been destroyed. The ANDMA has also reported on country-donor pledges and response assistance. This includes NFI from China, medication from Turkey, food from Pakistan, food and cement from Kazakhstan and cash from Iran.
Meanwhile the governments of India, Japan, Qatar and United Kingdom have also offered support during the crisis.
The ARCS has reported on the provision of assistance by the Red Crescent societies of Iran and Qatar, and possible additional needs dependent assistance from the Danish, Turkish and UAE Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies.