International Aid Agencies Respond to 6.3-Magnitude Earthquake in Samangan, Afghanistan
International organizations have mobilized to assist victims of a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the Nakhchir district of Samangan province in northern Afghanistan. Several aid agencies have expressed solidarity with those affected and have dispatched emergency and medical teams to the disaster-hit areas.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement that its staff, along with partner organizations, are on the ground to assess the urgent needs of residents and begin delivering aid. UNAMA noted that while little time has passed since the devastating recent earthquake in Herat province, the people of northern Afghanistan are once again facing the challenges of a natural disaster.
The European Union also expressed condolences to the families of victims in Samangan and Balkh provinces, announcing that it has begun aerial assessments to evaluate the extent of the damage. In a social media post, the EU reaffirmed its support for the people of Afghanistan.
The Norwegian Refugee Council voiced deep sorrow over the overnight earthquake and reported that its emergency teams have been deployed to the affected areas to assess damage and immediate needs. The organization extended its sympathies to grieving and injured families.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization stated that within hours of the quake, it had sent medical teams and necessary health supplies to local hospitals. The agency warned that in light of the recent catastrophe in western Afghanistan, the urgent need for aid in the north has also become apparent.
According to official reports from the Taliban administration, at least 20 people have been killed and more than 300 injured as a result of the earthquake. However, these figures have yet to be independently verified.
Images circulating on social media indicate that some historical sites were also damaged. Among them is the historic Rawza Mubarak Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif—a significant religious shrine in northern Afghanistan—where walls have cracked and parts of the structure near the entrance have collapsed.
