Whole communities have been left without homes after two powerful earthquakes struck eastern Afghanistan. After a 6.0 magnitude earthquake late on Sunday, when many people will have been asleep, another 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck the same region this afternoon (Tuesday).
Over 1400 lives have already been lost, and the death toll continues to rise as families are still searching for loved ones. Homes made of mud crumbled instantly, and the shallow depth of the quake made it especially destructive. The worst-hit areas of Kunar and Nangarhar are remote, mountainous, and difficult to access. Communication is limited, and the full scale of the disaster is still unknown.
ShelterBox is responding. We have significant experience working in challenging conditions like these. We’ll be working with a partner based in the affected region to support people who have lost their homes with emergency shelter.