The United Nations announced Monday that preliminary assessments show Sunday night’s earthquake damage in northern Afghanistan does not match the extensive destruction of September’s Kunar province earthquake .
The organization conducted aerial surveys of affected areas with Swiss government assistance, finding no signs of widespread destruction or mass displacement in populated regions.
Richard Trenchard, acting humanitarian coordinator for the UN in Afghanistan, stated that destruction was significantly less compared to the Kunar earthquake.
However, damage to health centers and shortage of female staff remain major challenges for relief operations.
The UN emphasized cooperation with Taliban administration for damage assessment and emergency aid coordination.
The UN stressed that even before this earthquake, northern Afghanistan faced drought, chronic poverty, and lack of basic services.
Of the organization’s $2.4 billion budget for Afghanistan’s humanitarian needs, only one-third has been funded, leaving over $1.5 billion in shortfall.
Afghanistan sits in an earthquake-prone belt, making building reinforcement crucial for reducing future casualties.
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