Finnish Red Cross to send assistance from its Disaster Relief Fund to the earthquake areas of Afghanistan
The Finnish Red Cross is distributing EUR 200,000 from its Disaster Relief Fund to emergency aid in Afghanistan, which has suffered from two devastating earthquakes in just one week. The earthquakes both hit the same province, destroying entire villages.
The earthquakes in the western Herat province of Afghanistan on Saturday and on the night before Wednesday caused extensive damage. The assistance sent by the Finnish Red Cross supports the work of the local Red Crescent for helping those who have been injured or who lost their homes in the earthquakes.
“The extent of the damage of the most recent earthquake is still being estimated, but the first one alone completely destroyed all the buildings of many villages,” says Toni Jokinen, the head of international aid support and coordination unit of the Finnish Red Cross.
“These two consecutive earthquakes have caused major human suffering in communities that are already living in the middle of a difficult humanitarian crisis. As the winter approaches, temperatures are quickly dropping while thousands of families are without cover.
Help quickly on the way through pre-positioned stocks
The Afghan Red Crescent Society launched its aid operation in Herat immediately after the first earthquake. The emergency aid teams of the Red Crescent have rescued people from the crushed ruins, and health teams have offered first aid to injured people.
In a difficult disaster, it is important that help is available quickly and close by.
Rescue supplies, such as accommodation and cooking equipment, have been distributed from the pre-positioned stocks of the Red Crescent to those who have lost their homes. The volunteers also provide people with mental support.
“In a difficult disaster, it is important that help is available quickly and close by. It is also essential that the help reaches those in the most vulnerable positions. Globally, one fourth of the volunteers of the Afghan Red Crescent Society are women, and their work in helping women and their families is vital,” Jokinen states.
The International Red Cross supports the work of the Afghan Red Crescent to help those affected by the earthquakes and the extensive humanitarian crisis in the country. About one third of the country's population, nearly 29 million people, live in need for immediate humanitarian aid.
Since August 2021, the Finnish Red Cross has distributed nearly EUR 3.9 million to aid work in Afghanistan from its Disaster Relief Fund and from funds allocated by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
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