Paktika – Teams from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are on the ground in Paktika and Khost provinces assisting hundreds of people affected by the devastating 6.1 magnitude earthquake that hit the two provinces southeast of Kabul on Tuesday night. 

“The numbers of people killed and affected by this tragedy are rising by the hour,” said IOM Deputy Chief of Mission Ashley Carl. 

“Our teams are working around the clock to ensure we reach those affected in remote villages and provide them with immediate relief.”  

Initial figures suggest that more than 1,000 people have been killed and at least 1,500 people were injured. 

IOM’s Humanitarian Assistance Programme is leading an interagency assessment to the affected provinces to determine the immediate needs of hundreds of families, many of whom lost their loved ones, their homes, and livelihoods.  

More than 17 trucks are making their way today from IOM warehouses to the earthquake-affected areas carrying emergency humanitarian supplies including family tents, blankets, clothes, shelter repair and reconstruction toolkits and other basic items. The emergency relief aims to reach 1,200 families whose houses have been completely destroyed by the earthquake with immediate shelter assistance and will expand based on the assessment.  

IOM is also supporting WASH partners on the ground to ensure safe access to clean water and to reduce the risk of diseases, which can be high after such disasters.  

Two mobile health teams and much needed medicine and health supplies are also being dispatched to bolster the health response and to support local health actors and facilities to attend to those who have been injured. 

For more information please contact: 

In Geneva, Safa Msehli, smsehli@iom.int, +41794035526 

In Kabul, Léo Torréton ltorreton@iom.int, +93 79 320 6074