It has been approximately two weeks since the devastating earthquake in Herat. This earthquake has created a profound tragedy, claiming thousands of lives. In the aftermath of this earthquake, thousands in Herat have been affected, and countless families, in addition to losing their loved ones, find themselves in dire and grievous circumstances. Currently, the earthquake-affected families in the Zinda Jan district claim that humanitarian aid from the Taliban is being selectively distributed to specific areas. They accuse the Taliban of favoritism and corruption in the distribution process, an accusation that the Taliban have denied.
With over two weeks passed since the deadly earthquakes in Herat and the influx of millions of dollars in aid from countries and relief organizations, some residents of the Zinda Jan district in this province allege that the Taliban is interfering in the aid distribution process. According to them, all aid is being distributed in earthquake-affected areas according to the Taliban’s preferences. These residents claim that only a few of them have managed to secure shelter, while many of the earthquake victims remain homeless.
Some residents of the severely affected areas in the Zinda Jan district, where multiple villages have been reduced to rubble by the earthquake, claim that aid is being selectively transferred to specific areas by the Taliban.
Mohammad Younis, a resident of the Zinda Jan district in Herat province, speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, says that his home has been reduced to rubble by the devastating earthquake, and his daughter is injured, but they still have no shelter. He alleges that in his neighboring village, are showered with aid and they do not have a place to keep the aid. Mohammad Younis, with a voice full of frustration, states, “The earthquake was a calamity that befell everyone. Everyone here has lost their homes. My daughter was trapped under the debris and is currently bedridden, requiring medicine [and not receiving it]. Aid is coming, but it is diverted from our village, and no one is helping us. Aid is distributed wherever the local Taliban leaders dictate.”
He claims, “In the nearby areas, whether it’s a Taliban member or from Taliban-affiliated communities, you can go and see that their homes are filled with aid, and there’s no space left for the remaining assistance. We have nearly 72 households and have only received 16 tents so far. It was just two days past the tragedy that the Taliban started pouring help to their people, and not to the public.”
Fayaz, one of the residents of the Cheshma-e Ghori village in the Zinda Jan district, also makes a similar claim. He says that their village has been destroyed, and many of the village’s residents still have no shelter. He alleges that the distribution of tents and aid in earthquake-affected areas has been unfair and based on tribal and familial ties with the Taliban.
He states, “Several villages that were affected by the earthquake are close to each other, and everyone knows that they are all severely devastated. But the distribution of aid is the opposite. Let me provide two examples. Look at the village of Wardakha, where they have given one tent to each individual. They transport aid to that village every evening after prayer. The same goes for the Sarbuland village, but in our village, they’ve given only a few tents, and so far, four or five families are living inside one tent. We had no ties with the Taliban, neither tribal nor familial. The decision on aid distribution is in the hands of the Taliban. Now, we don’t expect anything from anyone; our hope is with God.”
An informant has told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that the distribution of aid is being managed by the Taliban’s commission located in the Siah Ab village of the Zinda Jan district. The source, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated, “Anyone distributing aid must go to the Siah Ab area and obtain authorization from the commission because, without the Taliban’s seal and signature, no one, especially organizations, are allowed to distribute aid in the earthquake-affected areas.”
According to the source, many villages need assistance, but no aid has been distributed to them so far because the Taliban do not approve, therefore, organizations are unable to act. The source claims, “There are also organizations that had set aside resources for the affected areas and were supposed to distribute aid, but at the time of distribution, the Taliban intervened and did not permit it. These aids were redirected to Pashtun-populated areas, even though those areas did not have any damage.”
The source adds that in some of the villages designated as earthquake-affected areas by the Taliban, aid teams from organizations have delivered assistance, but most of the aid has been returned because the Taliban had reported inaccurate statistics.
The distribution of aid to earthquake victims has become one of the serious challenges in Herat. Previously, some Hazara-populated areas in this province also claimed that no help or attention had been given to the affected residents of their regions.
However, the Taliban have stated that these aids are distributed based on their assessment of vulnerable areas, and they deny allegations of misappropriation. This comes as the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) recently reported that the Taliban indirectly access U.S. educational aid.
It’s worth noting that more than two weeks have passed since the Herat earthquake, but the Taliban have not been able to provide accurate and consistent figures regarding the number of victims and destroyed homes. In the latest update, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that 21,500 homes have been destroyed in earthquake-affected areas, particularly in the Zinda Jan district of Herat province.
OCHA also continues to report that 154,000 people in Herat province have been affected by the earthquake, with 114,000 of them suffering serious injuries. OCHA further mentioned that 7,500 pregnant women have lost their family members and need psychological and social support.