From Desolation to Hope: Unveiling the Resilience of Afghanistan's Earthquake Survivors

Zaher calmly walks through the remnants of his village, now nothing more than heaps of rubble. As he stands atop a sand dune, he spots his former home - or rather, the meager remains that are left of it.

"Once, this was our abode, but now you witness its pitiful state," he says, his voice trembling. "The obvious evidence of our present circumstance."

"The devastating earthquake that struck Afghanistan on October 7 not only robbed him of his family home, but also claimed the lives of thirteen cherished members of his family. Among the victims were his own three daughters, two sons, two granddaughters, two grandsons, as well as a visiting grandchild, and his niece along with her daughter and son."

"You are witnessing our heartbreaking state... we have been stripped of everything. These crumbling remnants were once our livelihoods, our comfort, sustenance, and everything we possessed. Now, I find myself standing upon cold, barren stones, which serve as both my bed and foundation."

"No words can adequately capture the enormity of our plight," he adds. "The situation eloquently conveys its own despair."

Villages across western Afghanistan have been destroyed. Many reduced to rubble, leaving families trapped underneath

Ebrahim Noroozi/AP

One of Afghanistans deadliest earthquakes

The devastating earthquake that struck Afghanistan on October 7, with a powerful magnitude of 6.3, has now surpassed a week since its occurrence. This destructive natural disaster wreaked havoc on the western province of Herat, including Herat city, the country's third-largest city. In recent years, this earthquake has proven to be one of the deadliest to affect Afghanistan.

According to global aid organizations and rescue teams, the country is currently confronting a worsening humanitarian crisis, compounded by ongoing warfare and a collapsed economy. Additionally concerning is the daunting task of human recovery. Entire villages, like Zahers, have been devastated and reduced to rubble, with limited funds and minimal international awareness to provide assistance. Mawlawi Mutiul Haq Khales, from the Afghan Red Crescent Society, stated, "The situation in Afghanistan was already dire. People were just beginning to recover when a succession of major earthquakes hit us, all in the span of less than a week. Furthermore, with winter approaching, there is an urgent need for shelter, food, and healthcare."

"Early observations underscore the full extent of the damage, yet to be realized. (Our) efforts in this catastrophic situation cannot be overstated."

Residents of Afghanistan are seen sitting in a house that has been damaged following an earthquake in Sarbuland village, located in the Zendeh Jan district of Herat province. The incident occurred on October 7, 2023. The photograph is credited to Mohsen Karimi and was taken under the AFP/Getty Images.

Over 2,000 individuals have lost their lives in the earthquake that hit western Afghanistan. UN agencies and officials on-site confirm that according to estimates by Taliban government officials, the majority of the victims, over 90%, were women and children from Herat province.

US Charity Too Young To Wed, a key player in the current humanitarian relief effort, asserts that this alarming statistic can be attributed to the plight faced by women and girls who are confined to their households due to Taliban governance. These individuals are systematically deprived of their fundamental rights, including access to education, employment, and societal engagement.

"Over the past 2 years, their rights have been systematically taken away from them. Instead of being able to attend school or work on a Saturday, they were forced to stay confined within their homes, essentially imprisoned. In this country, nearly half of the population lives under house arrest," stated founder Stephanie Sinclair to CNN.

According to international aid agencies, the takeover by the Taliban has significantly hindered their efforts. They have described serious obstacles in their ability to respond to emergency calls and teams on the ground have reported difficulties in reaching survivors trapped in remote villages.

"We are completely powerless, with no place to call home," Zaher expressed. "So far, the only assistance I have received is a mere water bottle. How are we supposed to endure, sitting and sleeping on these unforgiving stones and rough terrain?"

"Our plea is solely directed towards the government and the global community - this is our desperate cry. As you can observe, we have been stripped of everything."

Officials report that the survivors have suffered severe injuries and are experiencing deep emotional distress. A significant number of them are grappling with the effects of traumatic experiences.

Among the survivors is Fatima, a 35-year-old woman hailing from the Zindeh Jan district in Herat province. She was saved from the wreckage and is currently undergoing medical treatment as part of her recuperation process.

Her seven children were killed in the earthquake.

So traumatized was Fatima that she could not speak about her children without having a panic attack, according to doctors.

"I was trapped under debris not once, but twice - the first instance ending with me being rescued by my own family members. The second occurrence happened when I bravely went back home to save my children, only to have the house collapse on me once again," she recounted.

"After that, my memory fades as I lost consciousness. The aftermath has been a constant battle with excruciating pain and overwhelming sorrow... we have been left with nothing, our lives completely stripped away."

Traumatized earthquake survivors like Fatima are grieving the loss of their children

Rana, a 32-year-old mother of three daughters, resides in the same district. Sadly, one of her daughters, a 6-year-old, has passed away. Additionally, her remaining daughters, aged 8 and 10, endured severe head injuries when a roof collapsed on them.

The family is now in desperate need of shelter and has nowhere to go.

"I was sitting at home when the earthquake struck… and I dragged my children out of the house," Rana said.

One of my children has become blind. Another daughter has sustained a leg injury. I implore anyone to provide us with a piece of land or a safe dwelling.

Many of those killed were Afghan children

Do not look away from Afghanistan, UN says

International aid agencies are urging countries to remain mindful of the situation in Afghanistan. According to Siddig Ibrahim, UNICEF's Chief of Field Office in Afghanistan, the country is facing an extreme humanitarian and child rights crisis. Additionally, he stated that this recent earthquake is the most severe the country has experienced in many years, emphasizing the urgent need for assistance.

"Things happening (elsewhere) in the world are not going to stop," Ibrahim added. The children of Afghanistan deserve equally as all children in the world."

On Sunday, October 8, 2023, Taliban fighters were seen guarding the area affected by a devastating earthquake in the Zenda Jan district of Herat province in western Afghanistan. According to a spokesperson from the Taliban government, the powerful quakes have tragically claimed the lives of at least 2,000 individuals, making it one of the most lethal seismic events the country has experienced in the past twenty years.+

Aid organizations caution that the destruction caused by the earthquake in Afghanistan is more severe than initially estimated. While helicopters continue to shuttle to other villages, Shah Bibi's children remain trapped underneath the rubble. The 32-year-old mother reminisces, "I was sewing at home while my children were peacefully asleep."

"The ground started to shake and I jumped into the air. It fell."

"Before I lost consciousness, I shouted so that someone could find my children and take them out."

"Eventually other villagers came but many were killed because it was too far away."

Two of Shah Bibis daughters along with her two nephews were killed on October 7.

"We have nowhere to go. Our place of living was there," she said in between tears.

"I dont know what our future will be but we have lost everything in our lives."