The powerful earthquake in Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman has claimed at least 1,400 lives, and over 3,700 people have been injured. Extensive rehabilitation work now awaits many survivors.
The earthquake, which measured 6.0 on the Richter scale, not only took lives, but has also caused injuries that will require physical rehabilitation and long-term care for the survivors. In the days following the earthquake, several aftershocks have occurred, one of them strong.
Earthquakes can inflict serious injuries on survivors that in the worst case can lead to amputations. The survivors will need both orthopaedic treatment, psychosocial support, and access to physiotherapy and other rehabilitation services. There will also be a need for prosthetics, wheelchairs, crutches, and other assistive devices.
Based on the geological conditions, we know that earthquakes occur frequently in Afghanistan. It is only two years since several major earthquakes struck both Herat Province in the North and Paktika Province in the South.
Expecting Significant and Long-Term Needs
“Based on experience from disasters of similar magnitude in Afghanistan, we expect a large influx of people seeking rehabilitation services,” says Terje M. Watterdal, country director of the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC).
“Beyond the more than 100 health and emergency workers already stationed in the affected areas, we have sent in three teams with male and female physiotherapists, as well as orthopaedic specialists. These teams refer the wounded to NACs rehabilitation centre in Jalalabad, in Nangarhar Province, for further treatment.”
“We have already increased production of crutches and wheelchairs and are prepared to receive people who will need prosthetics, prosthetic fitting, physiotherapy, as well as long-term follow-up,” Watterdal explains.
In addition to the physical injuries people sustain, such an experience is also an enormous trauma. Therefore, NAC has also sent in four female and male mental health professionals who can provide psychosocial support to the injured.
The work is conducted in close coordination with local health authorities and other actors. On the first day, the teams provided medical treatment to 35 wounded, helped with 53 burials, and transported 60 wounded for further treatment outside the earthquake area. On Wednesday, the teams treated 47 people with fracture injuries. They also distributed wheelchairs, crutches, medical belts, neck braces, and other equipment. 18 people were transferred to NAC health centres. Several families have received help to salvage household equipment and food from the ruins. In addition, 27 people have received training in earthquake safety procedures.
Possibility for Greater Capacity
According to Watterdal, NAC has more capacity available should the influx become too large for the rehabilitation centre in Jalalabad.
“We can either bring in more specialists from the rehabilitation centres in Ghazni and Kabul, but also the centres in Balkh and Takhar in the North of the country, or send patients there, so they can receive follow-up outside the region if necessary,” he says.
Reconstruction of both infrastructure and human lives will be a long-term task. Arable land and livestock have been lost, while local infrastructure is severely damaged or destroyed. This means that families must not only cope with physical injuries, but also experience an economic catastrophe.
Local organizations, private donations, and the local population have made enormous efforts, but most of the aid is centred around the camps where the internally displaced are staying. There are still some remote villages that are extremely difficult to reach – in some cases the only access route requires up to eight hours travel on foot.
Concerns About Funding
Between 11 and 13 percent of the population lives with some form of serious disability in Afghanistan. In addition to war and conflict, poverty, lack of food, as well as inadequate access to healthcare services for pregnant women and children, natural disasters are all important causes of disability.
NAC accounts for approximately half of the services provided to people with disabilities in Afghanistan. In 2024 alone, 84,580 people received treatment at NAC’s rehabilitation centres. As a result of funding cuts, NAC’s entire rehabilitation programme is now in acute danger of being shut down.
Given the current needs for rehabilitation services after the earthquake, we have become very concerned about future response capacity if the centres we operate must be discontinued,” Watterdal concludes.
What the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee Does
- sendt emergency teams with physiotherapists, specialists in prosthetics and orthotics, and psychologists.
- has over 100 local health workers and teachers with specialized expertise available in the three affected provinces
- provides psychosocial support to injured women, men, children, and youth
- has increased production of wheelchairs, crutches, and other assistive devices
- provides awareness training on safety procedures for natural disasters
