Afghanistan: Recovering After the Earthquake

The 6.0 magnitude earthquake, whose epicentre was near the city of Jalalabad, was followed by several aftershocks. The consequences were devastating: over 1,900 people died and more than 3,600 were injured. With nearly 8,500 homes destroyed, the material damage was considerable and many families, forced to live in extremely difficult conditions, needed rapid assistance to cope with the situation. With the support of the European Union, HI deployed its emergency response in the days following the disaster.

Deploying a response close to the survivors

After an earthquake of this magnitude, many survivors suffered serious injuries such as fractures or dislocations which, if not treated quickly, can have lasting consequences. In addition, many survivors are left with psychological trauma: it is essential to help them overcome the shock and anxiety caused by the situation.

That is why HI deployed part of its national team, four people, two physiotherapists and two mental health specialists (one man and one woman in each case) to provide rehabilitation support and psychological first aid to survivors living in remote areas. As of 26 October, these activities had already helped more than 500 people with rehabilitation, mental health and psychosocial support.

“When the earthquake happened, I was at home, sleeping outside while the rest of my family was inside. As soon as the shaking started, I woke up, jumped, and ran to try and evacuate my children. The shaking continued, and I was terrified. I thought all of them had been killed inside the house when their room collapsed. We rescued them but they were severely injured and I spent all my savings on their medical treatment. It's only later that I realized that I had been injured too. Fortunately, the HI team who visited our village helped me recover, not only physically but also emotionally, and I'm very grateful to them,” said Abd Hanan Safi, a farmer living in Patan, a village in the Kunar province.

Improving access to rehabilitation in the provincial capital of Jalalabad

With support from the European Union, HI deployed its international Specialized Care Team in Nangarhar Regional Hospital to improve access to rehabilitation care in Jalalabad. The aim of this intervention was to address gaps in emergency physical rehabilitation services. It helped improve the physical and functional abilities of people who were injured and prevent permanent disabilities.

At the end of September, a flight operated by the European Union Humanitarian Air Bridge (EU HAB) delivered more than five tonnes of essential equipment for patient care, such as crutches, wheelchairs and walking sticks.

Since then, HI teams working at the hospital have supported 224 patients and their caregivers through physiotherapy sessions and training in caring for injured people. Many of them have also received walking sticks, crutches or wheelchairs to help them get around more easily and become more independent.

“We’re in an area that is very vulnerable to natural disasters and there is a lack of health infrastructure, resources and staff, so it is difficult for them to meet the physiotherapy needs of people with acute injuries or chronic conditions. The funding from the EU has helped many people regain their independence. But there still are a lot of challenges around geography and access to healthcare for many people, so one of the ways we try to overcome that is by discussing rehabilitation principles with caregivers and patients to teach them the best way to protect wounds and joints, because many of them won’t be able to come back to the hospital,” explains Danny Gordon, emergency physiotherapist at HI.

HI has also trained hospital teams in emergency rehabilitation to improve patient care. As a result, 46 healthcare staff members have strengthened their knowledge; HI specialists continue to provide support to consolidate their learning and reinforce their practical skills.