Afghanistan needs more than Rs 400 million to recover from October earthquake, UN estimates in report

The United Nations said on Wednesday that western Afghanistan needs more than $400 million to recover and rebuild from a devastating earthquake last October that killed nearly 2,000 people. A magnitude 6.3 earthquake on October 7, one of the most destructive in the country’s recent history, destroyed entire villages in Herat province and left thousands injured and homeless. Months later, survivors are still struggling to rebuild their lives.

A new UN report released in collaboration with the World Bank, the European Union and the Asian Development Bank estimates that $402.9 million is urgently needed to support critical recovery and reconstruction efforts in the province. The report said recovery strategies should prioritize restoring access to basic services and building earthquake-safe housing, especially for the most affected households. It said its assessment of immediate needs relies on field data, publicly available information and remote analytics. The report represents the first joint assessment since August 2021 and reflects an international determination to address the needs of disaster-affected communities and support their recovery.

It surveyed nearly nine districts comprising about 2.2 million people and gave a detailed breakdown of the numbers affected, including categories such as pregnant women, infants and people with disabilities. According to the report, Herat, Injil and Zindajan districts were the most affected, with rural and vulnerable communities the most affected.