Afghanistan - IOM distributed vital relief supplies across northern, central and eastern Afghanistan this week, helping families affected by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck on 26 October.

An estimated 8,300 families in 14 Afghan provinces were affected by the earthquake, with 102 individuals killed and 487 injured. This toll could rise further as remote communities are accessed by assessment teams.

Assessments have been completed in 98 districts out of the 117 estimated to have been affected. To date, roughly 17,000 families have been verified through the assessments carried out by IOM and government, UN and NGO partners.

The main needs of affected families identified through the assessments are basic household items, blankets, tents, hygiene kits and shelters for those whose homes were completely destroyed.

“With the majority of assessments completed, getting aid to families in need is our priority,” said IOM Afghanistan Chief of Mission Richard Danziger.

IOM has distributed relief items to approximately 1,000 families in Badakhshan, Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman and Takhar provinces, and distributions are ongoing for additional assessed families in these provinces.

Badakhshan, the earthquake’s epicentre, along with Nangarhar, Kunar and Nooristan, are the provinces most affected by the earthquake.

A distribution of relief items for 860 families will take place in Badakhshan’s Kishim district today (6/11.)

Access in some of the affected areas remains a challenge due to difficult terrain and security concerns. Coordination is ongoing with local partners to ensure that aid reaches affected communities.

IOM has relocated 2,900 relief kits from its warehouses in Mazar-e-Sharif and Kabul to Badakhshan.

Funding support for IOM’s natural disaster response activities, including disaster risk reduction, is provided by USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and the Government of Japan.

For further information, please contact Richard Danziger at IOM Kabul, Email: rdanziger@iom.int, Tel: +93 794 100 525.