Herat Earthquake Relief: Providing Urgent Aid to Victims

HUMANITARIAN IMPACT:

The project stabilized the lives of hundreds of families in the most difficult months following the earthquakes and prevented a deeper humanitarian crisis in Herat.

It demonstrated how diaspora-led aid, combined with strong local partners, can effectively save lives in an acute crisis situation.

The project “Herat Earthquake Relief: Providing Urgent Aid to Victims” was implemented between November 16, 2023, and March 15, 2024, as part of DERF’s Rapid Response mechanism. The background was a series of powerful earthquakes that struck Herat province, destroying entire villages, leaving thousands of families homeless, and creating a humanitarian situation where people were left without food, warmth, and safety. During the winter months, the risk of illness, hypothermia, dehydration, and starvation dramatically increased, especially for children, the elderly, and women, who were already among the most vulnerable. To address this situation, Rebuild Aid launched a rapid response funded by DERF and implemented in close collaboration with our local partner, Saifrood Unity and Aid Organization (SUAO).

SUAO provided the critical presence on the ground. The organization conducted detailed needs assessments in the hardest-hit villages, where families had lost everything and where temporary tents or shelters could no longer withstand the cold or wind. SUAO’s local knowledge, access to village leaders, and experience in humanitarian work made it possible to identify the most vulnerable households and organize a safe and equitable distribution of aid. Rebuild Aid coordinated the operation, ensured transparency and quality in deliveries, and documented the project’s impact in accordance with DERF’s requirements.

The relief assistance consisted of food, warm blankets, winter clothing, hygiene items, and essential non-food items, enabling families to endure the winter cold and maintain basic dignity. In many cases, this was the only support the earthquake-affected received after the disaster. Several families were living without access to kitchen facilities or clean water, and the delivered assistance allowed them to protect their young children from illness, stay warm at night, and avoid the immediate risks associated with lacking basic necessities.

The impact of the project was immediately noticeable. Affected families gained calm and stability during a period when everything around them had collapsed. It gave them time and opportunity to reorganize their lives, contact relatives, begin repairing damaged homes, or find temporary solutions that could move them a step forward in the recovery process. Many families avoided serious illnesses or health consequences from the cold because they received warm blankets, clothing, and hygiene items that made a tangible difference in daily life.

Although the project was time-limited, it created long-term effects for both the beneficiaries and Rebuild Aid’s future humanitarian work. The earthquake-affected communities strengthened their resilience because the aid prevented further displacement and social instability. For SUAO, the project meant capacity building and experience with DERF standards, making future emergency responses more effective. For Rebuild Aid, the project was an important demonstration of how a diaspora-led organization with strong local partnerships can respond quickly and deliver humanitarian assistance in a complex and challenging context.

The Herat response showed that rapid and targeted emergency aid saves lives and stabilizes communities in shock. The project also underscores the value of collaboration between Rebuild Aid, SUAO, and DERF, where international funding, local capacity, and diaspora engagement were combined to support some of the most vulnerable people in Afghanistan at a time of greatest need.