UN: Over 50% of Earthquake Victims in Eastern Afghanistan Are Women
The United Nations has reported that more than 50% of the victims of last week’s deadly earthquake in eastern Afghanistan are women. The earthquake primarily affected the provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar.
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said that despite deploying five mobile health teams to provide emergency medical care, poor road conditions and remote, mountainous terrain have hindered relief efforts.
UNICEF stated that 19,781 children were affected, including 10,299 girls. Tragically, 731 children lost their lives, 393 of them girls. In Kunar, 271 children were orphaned, and 45 were separated from their families, with many traumatized by repeated aftershocks and illness.
According to the World Health Organization, the earthquake killed 2,205 people, injured 3,640, and destroyed around 7,000 homes either completely or partially, affecting women and children most severely.
