Kabul, Afghanistan – Afghan survivors of the devastating earthquake which rocked northeastern Afghanistan have refused to return home, fearful of deadly landslides in its wake. The magnitude 6.1 Richter scale earthquake hit earlier this week and caused widespread destruction; thousands of homes were damaged or completely obliterated while several villages lay buried under rubble and debris.
Rescue operations continue and emergency relief has been sent out, yet many survivors remain reluctant to return home due to powerful aftershocks and an unstable terrain caused by the earthquake, prompting fears about further landslides in mountainous regions where many villages reside.
“The ground in Kunar is unstable and I fear more landslides,” stated Ahmad Shah of Kunar’s hard-hit village, adding, “I lost everything here and am petrified that our homes may collapse into rubble once more.
The earthquake that rocked eastern provinces Paktika, Khost, and Nangarhar caused significant infrastructure damage; entire villages were reduced to rubble. Given that this region is susceptible to landslides due to its steep mountainous terrain, survivors remain particularly susceptible to further natural disasters; fearing further landslides is keeping some from returning despite authorities encouraging them to do so so they can receive assistance and start recovering their villages.
Local authorities are working hard to reassure survivors, with Afghan government officials assuring that efforts are underway to stabilize the terrain and assess risks of further landslides. “We are working closely with engineers to assess the situation and establish safe areas where residents may return,” according to Ziaul Haq Amarkhel, governor of Khost province. However, fear of further landslides remains an enduring worry and we are taking every precaution possible in our response.
Relief efforts in this region have been complicated by its complex geography. Due to landslides, many roads remain blocked making aid workers difficult to access remote villages. The government has dispatched teams to clear these roads and deliver essential supplies such as food, water and medical aid but continuous aftershocks have thwarted these efforts.
International organizations, including the United Nations, have also come forward to aid relief efforts with both financial and logistical support. “We’re deeply concerned for the well-being of survivors, working closely with Afghan government authorities to make sure aid reaches where it’s most needed,” stated David Beasley, Executive Director of World Food Programme.
As earthquake survivors struggle with its aftermath, many are calling for more comprehensive long-term solutions to mitigate future natural disasters in Afghanistan’s earthquake-prone regions. At present, however, fear of landslides remains an immense barrier to their recovery and rebuilding efforts.