Statement on the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan

Statement on the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan

Statement by UN Women Afghanistan

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Afghan women and girls will be among those most affected by the devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan.

UN Women is on the ground working with local partners to assess the impact.

We urge local and international responders to ensure women and girls are prioritised in the response - from urgent assistance and care to safe shelter and protection.

During the last major earthquake, in Herat, western Afghanistan, in 2023, nearly six out of ten of those who lost their lives were women, and nearly two-thirds of those injured were women.

UN Women Afghanistan Special Representative, Susan Ferguson, stressed the need for Afghan women humanitarians to be part of the response.

"Women and girls will again bear the brunt of this disaster, so we must ensure their needs are at the heart of the response and recovery," Ms Ferguson said.

"This includes supporting the vital work of women humanitarians - otherwise women and girls could miss out on lifesaving assistance or information in the days ahead."

More support is needed to meet the most urgent needs of women and girls, including emergency shelter; blankets and cooking sets; personal hygiene and critical medical supplies -which are reportedly running low- as well as drinking water and food.

Topics

• Humanitarian action
• Crisis response and recovery
• Europe and Central Asia
• Afghanistan