In response to the devastating earthquake that struck their homeland, Afghans across Canada have united in concern and action, formulating fundraising initiatives while anxiously combing through news updates. Tragically, the seismic disaster reportedly claimed the lives of over 2,000 individuals.
Thousands of miles away in Alberta, Farid Teimoury, vice-president of the Afghan Society of Calgary, felt a sense of helpless despair as he absorbed the images of destruction caused by the potent earthquake in western Afghanistan. He lamented the heart-wrenching guilt of being unable to actively aid those caught in the unbelievable chaos and ruin.
For the Afghan community, this catastrophe is yet another challenge in an era marked by governmental shifts and displacement crises. In such trying times, the efforts of the diaspora are confined to pooling financial resources and directing them towards the homeland, praying for their efficacy and timely arrival.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 6.3-magnitude earthquake’s epicentre lay approximately 40 kilometres northwest of Herat, Afghanistan’s fourth largest city. The frightful quake took place around 11 a.m. local time and set off an intense sequence of aftershocks. As a result, entire villages succumbed to destruction, with local residents trapped under rubble, bereft of sufficient equipment to perform rescue missions.
A group of approximately 35 Afghans in Calgary, including Teimoury and his spouse, who is originally from the vicinity of Herat, stayed awake till late hours of Saturday night, anxiously following updates on the calamity. Fortuitously, all have been able to contact their kin and acquaintances back in Afghanistan. The group will reconvene on Sunday to finalize plans for a fundraiser soon to be initiated.
The Taliban government relayed the unfortunate death toll of 2,000, a figure yet to be externally verified. If authentic, this event ranks among the most fatal earthquakes to hit the nation in the last two decades.
On Canada’s eastern coast, Afghans in Newfoundland are readying an online crowdsourced fundraising initiative. Maisam Najafizada, an assistant public health professor at Memorial University, voiced the distressing reality of the lack of resources and coherent communication in quake-ridden areas, lending an increased sense of helplessness to the already grim conditions.
Close to 97,000 Afghans call Canada home, according to the 2021 census. Following the Taliban’s takeover last August, Canada has welcomed over 39,000 Afghan refugees.
Melanie Joly, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, expressing her solidarity with the Afghan diaspora, asserted Canada’s readiness to assist the Afghan nationals in these challenging times via a social media post.
As of Sunday, Global Affairs Canada reported no Canadians missing or casualties due to the earthquake. The agency listed 880 Canadians in Afghanistan, based on voluntary registration.
As the grim side of the calamity unravels, Doctors Without Borders reported that the quake did not impact the regional hospital in Herat where they function. Despite the shock of the tremor, their teams managed to safely evacuate critically ill pediatric patients. With mass casualty kits dispatched and a medical team stationed for emergencies, the agency is prepared to provide steadfast support.
As the global community marches forth in solidarity with those affected by this catastrophe, one can only hope for swift relief and efficient rebuilding efforts to prevail for our fellows in Afghanistan.
