A magnitude 5.9 earthquake has struck Afghanistan’s Paktika and Khost provinces. Gayan district in Paktika province is reportedly the worst affected and is where International Medical Corps has been working since 2004. At least 1,000 people have been killed, more than 1,500 others have been injured and widespread damage to infrastructure and homes is being reported. The number of casualties is expected to rise as search and rescue operations are ongoing. Our teams have confirmed that many villages have sustained significant damage, with most residents either killed or injured.
International Medical Corps was the first to respond Gayan within the first hours after the earthquake struck—mobilizing staff and ambulances and providing critical trauma care to impacted communities. Working hand-in-hand with local health authorities, we have already treated more than 475 patients and are in the process of redeploying teams from other parts of the country to support the significant need for trauma care. Other priority needs include emergency shelter, non-food items, food assistance and water sanitation and hygiene support.
Your support is urgently needed as we work to address the needs of those impacted by the deadly earthquake.
*Note for recurring donations: Once we have determined that the community can continue to respond to the after-effects of this emergency without us, we will scale back our response efforts. At that time, we will redirect your future donations to where it is needed most to help us respond to future outbreaks of conflict, disease or disaster.
