Afghanistan Herat Earthquakes Response Plan - OCHA 17 October 2023
/
2:39
/
MP4
/
195.1 MB

Edited News | OCHA , UNITED NATIONS

$93.6 million needed to support earthquake-affected in Herat, says UN aid coordination agency

$93.6 million needed to support earthquake-affected in Herat, says UN aid coordination agency

In the space of just eight days, three destructive 6.3 magnitude earthquakes rocked western Afghanistan’s province of Herat, killing 2,000 people and affecting 1.6 million, UN aid coordination agency OCHA said on Tuesday.

The high-intensity quakes have left thousands in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

Latest on-site reports indicate that 66,000 people have been affected “and this figure is going up as we continue our assessments”, said Daniel Endres, Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. for Afghanistan, speaking from Kabul to journalists in Geneva.

The initial quake destroyed entire villages made of mud-brick homes. Schools and health clinics were also flattened. Most vulnerable communities now live out in the open, in makeshift shelters, in freezing temperatures ahead of the winter months. First aid, medical supplies, food, hygiene kits, emergency shelter and basic household items are part of the initial relief assistance provided.

But important damage to water and sanitation points is raising concerns of waterborne and other infectious disease outbreaks. “There is now no water for the people. It needs to be tanked in and the water systems that are on the ground have been impacted by debris. There is a risk of diseases because the water is going to be contaminated,” warned Mr. Endres. “The bigger job of addressing an earthquake comes in the next 12 months, in the reconstruction of the infrastructure, water in particular, and then, of course, the destroyed homes.”

The Humanitarian Country Team launched a multi-sectoral Herat Earthquake Response Plan (HRP) of $93.6 million to support 114,00 earthquake-affected people in the province of Herat. The appeal comes against a backdrop of chronic funding deficits, however. “Our current HRP remains severely underfunded. We've only received 30 per cent of requirements to date (this year),” said Katherine Carey, OCHA Deputy Head of humanitarian affairs office in Afghanistan.

Humanitarian partners continue to coordinate with the de-facto authorities. “That collaboration has been positive, said Mr. Endres. They have virtually not restricted us in the outreach to the people and doing the assessments.” Women are treated by female medical personnel and the work of women is permitted. “That's happening,” he confirmed.

The UN health agency, WHO, has also deployed a team of 21 female healthcare workers, medical doctors and midwives to different clinics.

Earthquakes are common in Afghanistan where there are multiple fault lines and frequent seismic movement among three tectonic plates in the area.

Ends

TRT: 2’39”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 17 Oct. 2023
DATELINE: Bi-Weekly Press Briefing - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND


SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior wide shot: UN flag alley UN Geneva.
  2. Wide shot, Press room, UN Geneva
  3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Daniel Endres, Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. for Afghanistan and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Resident and Resident Coordinator: “Western Afghanistan, north of Herat has been struck by three earthquakes of the magnitude 6.3. And that means, the first one was on the 7th of October, the second one on the 11th, and last Sunday on the 15th, there was the third one. And so far, what we have assessed is that we have about 66,000 people who are affected. This figure is going up as we continue our assessments.”
  4. Cutaway: medium shot journalists taking notes
  5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Daniel Endres, Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. for Afghanistan and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Resident and Resident Coordinator: “There is now no water for the people. It needs to be tanked in and the water systems that are on the ground have been impacted by debris. And there is a risk of diseases because the water is going to be contaminated.”
  6. Cutaway: wide shot of the press room
  7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Daniel Endres, Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. for Afghanistan and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Resident and Resident Coordinator: “First of all, in the initial humanitarian lifesaving and life sustaining phase, but it is very, very important that we also are fully aware the bigger job of addressing an earthquake comes in the next 12 months, in the reconstruction of the infrastructure, water in particular, and then, of course, the destroyed homes.”
  8. Cutaway: medium shot of journalist in the room
  9. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Katherine Carey, Deputy Head of Office, OCHA Afghanistan: “The plan is six months long. It just to sort of clarify, it is a plan that will be absorbed into the existing humanitarian response plan so that the requirements that are attached to it and these total $93.6 million dollars are already incorporated into our existing humanitarian response plan for 2023. But obviously our current HRP (humanitarian response plan) remains severely underfunded. We've only received 30% of requirements to date.”
  10. Cutaway: wide shot of the press room with journalists
  11. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Daniel Endres, Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. for Afghanistan and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Resident and Resident Coordinator: “That collaboration has been positive. They have virtually not restricted us in the outreach to the people and doing the assessments. That includes access to women by women. As you know, especially in the medical field, the work of women is permitted. And so, the women are, of course, undertreated by female medical personnel. And that's happening.”
  12. Cutaway: medium shot of journalists in the press room
  13. Various shots of Press conference room

Similar Stories

UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif on DRC at Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif on DRC at Human Rights Council ENG

UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif on Tuesday presented a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, detailing the continued violations of human rights as a result of the offensive launched by the Rwandan-backed M23 in eastern DRC.

Gaza update OCHA - UNICEF -  IFRC

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , IFRC

Gaza update OCHA - UNICEF - IFRC ENG FRA

UN humanitarians and partners on Tuesday expressed deep shock at the killing of 15 colleagues on duty in southern Gaza whose remains were recovered from a shallow grave after a week-long rescue operation, noting that one worker is still missing.

Myanmar earthquake update UNICEF - OCHA -  WHO - UNHCR

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF , OCHA , WHO , UNHCR

Myanmar earthquake update UNICEF - OCHA - WHO - UNHCR ENG FRA

Myanmar earthquake latest: window for lifesaving support is closing, say UN humanitarians

As the death toll continues to rise in earthquake-struck Myanmar, UN humanitarians have been rushing to support severely deprived and traumatized victims, warning that the window for lifesaving response is closing.

Gaza update - OCHA, WHO UN Women 28 March 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNWOMEN , WHO

Gaza update - OCHA, WHO UN Women 28 March 2025 ENG FRA

Lifesaving supplies in Gaza continue to run dangerously low, nearly four weeks into the total aid blockade and deadly bombardment of the enclave by Israel, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

Yemen 10 years of war - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF

Yemen 10 years of war - UNICEF ENG FRA

As Yemen’s conflict reaches 10-year mark, over half a million children severely malnourished

In Yemen, a decade of conflict has been catastrophic for the country’s children living under the threat of airstrikes and staggeringly high malnutrition rates, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

UNAIDS Press conference - 24 March 2025

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | UNAIDS

UNAIDS Press conference - 24 March 2025 ENG FRA

Amid continuing uncertainty about the impact of deep US funding cuts to humanitarian work worldwide, the head of the UN agency coordinating the fight against HIV-AIDS warned that an addition 6.3 million people will die in the next four years, unless the support is reinstated.

UN report details devastating impact of hostilities on children in Ukraine

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN report details devastating impact of hostilities on children in Ukraine ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office today published a report detailing how death, injury and lasting family separation are among the traumatic events that have upended the lives of Ukraine’s children in the three years since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion. 

Gaza update - UNWRA, UNICEF, IFRC 21 March 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , UNICEF , IFRC

Gaza update - UNWRA, UNICEF, IFRC 21 March 2025 ENG FRA

Israel’s renewed bombing campaign and intensifying ground operation in Gaza are reversing gains achieved during the brief ceasefire, UN humanitarians said on Friday from inside the devastated enclave.

HRC - Press conference: Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine - 19 March 2025

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC - Press conference: Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine - 19 March 2025 ENG FRA

The Human Rights Council on Wednesday heard gruesome testimony of torture, rape and execution of Ukrainian detainees and soldiers by Russian forces, as a high-level independent probe delivered its latest mandated report in Geneva.

Informal Meeting on Cyprus, UN Geneva: UN Secretary-General António Guterres Media Stakeout - 18 March 2025

2

23

1

1

Edited News , Press Conferences | UNITED NATIONS

Informal Meeting on Cyprus, UN Geneva: UN Secretary-General António Guterres Media Stakeout - 18 March 2025 ENG FRA

Cyprus talks result in trust-building measures, show ‘new atmosphere’ among divided island’s leaders, says UN’s Guterres

UN-led efforts to kick-start talks on the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus have resulted in agreements on new trust-building measures and also underscored the positive “new atmosphere” surrounding the discussions, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday.

Informal Meeting on Cyprus, UN Geneva: arrivals and meeting - 18 March 2025

1

62

1

2

Edited News , Images | UNITED NATIONS , UNOG

Informal Meeting on Cyprus, UN Geneva: arrivals and meeting - 18 March 2025 ENG FRA

Fresh talks over the future of Cyprus continued on Tuesday as representatives of the divided Mediterranean island gathered at the UN in Geneva along with guarantors Greece, Türkiye and the United Kingdom at the request of UN chief António Guterres.

 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan and Head of OHCHR OPT office Ajith Sunghay on West Bank settlements report

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG , WFP

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan and Head of OHCHR OPT office Ajith Sunghay on West Bank settlements report ENG FRA

The Government of Israel has ramped up settlement of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, transferring its own population into the territory and unlawfully demolishing Palestinian homes. At the same time settler violence has increased with continued impunity, the UN Human Rights Office said on Tuesday.