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EMERGENCY Providing Medical Response After Earthquake in Afghanistan

EMERGENCY is taking part in the medical response following the earthquake in Afghanistan, which has caused hundreds of deaths and injuries that are increasing by the hour.

We have sent staff and 7 ambulances to support relief efforts & transport the injured to our First Aid Posts. We have also made beds available in the Kabul Surgical Centre.

The 5.9-magnitude quake, which occurred in the middle of the night, was felt within a 500km radius of the epicentre as far as Pakistan and India, and caused injuries, deaths and destruction in the Barmal, Zirok, Nika and Giyan districts of Paktika province. So far, more than 900 people are reported dead and over 600 injured. The fear is that this number will continue to rise: many people may have been trapped under collapsed buildings.

“This tragedy only worsens the difficult, fragile economic and social situation that Afghanistan has been experiencing for months,” says Stefano, our Country Director. “Now it will be even more necessary to release and increase all the humanitarian aid that Afghanistan needs.”