The prolonged US occupation of Afghanistan, which spanned over two decades, had a profound and complex impact on the country's infrastructure and the overall legacy of the occupation was marked by a significant deterioration of infrastructure and various challenges. Threfore, there is an urgent need when natural disaters happen.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has gratefully received a generous $1 million donation from Japan, aimed at providing crucial emergency food assistance to the earthquake-affected Herat Province in western Afghanistan. This vital support will be instrumental in aiding nearly 33,000 individuals who have been impacted by a series of earthquakes, some with magnitudes as high as 6.3, that have rocked Herat Province over the course of eight harrowing days this month. These devastating tremors have left dozens of villages severely affected, with many being entirely reduced to rubble.
Mr. Takatoshi Kuromiya, the Japanese Ambassador to Afghanistan, expressed their unwavering support for the Afghan people, emphasizing Japan's solidarity with them in the wake of these catastrophic earthquakes. "We comprehend the severity of the situation in Herat Province and remain wholly dedicated to extending a helping hand to facilitate the recovery of lives and communities," Ambassador Kuromiya stated.
In response to the earthquakes, the WFP promptly dispatched essential food supplies to the affected regions within hours of the initial quake. As of October 17th, WFP had reached out to nearly 70,000 individuals with emergency food assistance. This assistance includes fortified wheat flour, vegetable oil, pulses, salt, and specialized nutritious foods designed to enhance nutritional conditions and combat malnutrition, particularly among children from families who have lost everything and are now residing in tents alongside the remnants of their homes.
"These earthquakes have struck at a time when a staggering 15 million people throughout Afghanistan are uncertain about where their next meal will come from. Regrettably, WFP can only provide support to 3 million of them due to a severe funding crisis," lamented Harald Mannhardt, WFP Afghanistan Deputy Country Director. "To respond to the initial emergency, we had to reallocate food from other programs, underscoring the critical nature of this recent contribution from Japan to our mission of aiding the most vulnerable families." This donation will significantly enhance WFP's efforts to establish food security, restore dignity, and assist the people of Herat Province in rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of this tragic ordeal.
