Afghanistan Earthquakes

Overview

In October 2023, a series of powerful earthquakes struck Herat Province in western Afghanistan, with the strongest measuring 6.3 magnitude. The sequence of quakes destroyed thousands of mud-brick homes across rural villages, killing over 1,400 people and displacing tens of thousands of families. The earthquakes struck a region already suffering from decades of conflict, drought, and economic crisis. GEM's MENA team deployed to Afghanistan to provide humanitarian aid, while other organizations worked to deliver emergency shelter, medical supplies, and food to affected communities in the challenging operating environment.