Update from Herat Emergency Appeal

Last October a devasting earthquake struck Herat, Afghanistan. Over 2000 people lost their lives and 3000 more were left injured. The earthquake caused severe damage to 50 villages, and many were unable to access basic health services—posing a grave threat to the population.   

Given HealthProm’s current work in Northern Afghanistan supporting mothers, children and families, we recognized the dire need for action to support people in Herat. We organised a fundraising appeal and raised over £9,400 for affected families. With the funds, we helped our local partners in Afghanistan provide life-saving medicine, treatments and supplies to the survivors, particularly focusing on treating women and children. 

Our local partner, the Health for All Delivery and Service Organisation (HADSO) described a harrowing situation on the ground. They visited all affected areas but especially surveyed Zindajan, which bore the brunt of the earthquake's impact. “All 15 villages in this region were completely demolished, with only four villages possessing a health centre," they described. "The remaining villages had no access to any healthcare services." 

The HADSO team, alongside 2 additional doctors and medical professionals, carried out treatments and distributed resources in the affected areas. Among the most vulnerable, were pregnant women and children. Pregnant women and children were experiencing anemia and lack of access to necessary healthcare services. Having survived the immediate effects of the earthquake, injuries and health barriers threatened their continued survival. Our local partner treated pregnant women and distributed health kits containing hygiene products, and anaemic, multi-vitamin, and calcium tablets—providing essential medicine to improve their conditions. The team also treated children with various health issues sustained because of the earthquake and decreased access to health services, including life-threatening pneumonia and colds. 

With HealthProm’s help, HADSO achieved substantial impacts throughout Herat. In total, they distributed dry milk and diapers for 400 children, treated 600 children under the age of 5, distributed baby blankets for 1,000 children under 5, treated 300 pregnant women, distributed 150 clean birth kits and sanitary kits for 150 pregnant women and treated 2,000 sick people.  

At HealthProm we stand proudly with our local partners, steadfast in our unwavering commitment to bolstering their efforts and championing the resilience of local communities amidst the formidable hurdles posed by disasters such as the devastating earthquake in Herat.  

To enable us to continue to support women, children and families like those in Herat, please consider donating to our work by clicking on the link below.