2022 Earthquake Relief in Paktika, Paktia, and Khost

Introduction to the Crisis

On June 22, 2022, an earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale occurred at a depth of 15 kilometers in the eastern Afghan provinces of Paktika and Khost. The seismic event struck at approximately 1:00 AM while residents were asleep, causing extensive destruction in rural, mountainous areas that are difficult to access by road. The earthquake resulted in more than 1,000 deaths, injured over 6,000 individuals, and destroyed several thousand homes constructed primarily from mud-clay materials. The districts of Bermel (Barmal) and Gayan (Geyaan) in Paktika were among the most severely impacted areas.

As an organization dedicated to the service of Afghanistan and its people, the Society of Afghan Engineers (SAE) immediately recognized the need to provide humanitarian and technical assistance to the affected regions.

Our Immediate Financial Response

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, we prioritized deploying financial resources to support relief efforts on the ground. On June 28, 2022, we transferred an initial $10,000 from the Society’s bank account via Western Union to our representative in Kabul, Mr. Walid Howaida, to assist victims in Paktika and Paktia. We also launched a dedicated fundraising campaign among our members and supporters. By mid-August 2022, we successfully collected additional donations totaling $5,230 to further support our earthquake relief operations.

On-the-Ground Assessment and Technical Collaboration

To ensure our resources were directed where they were most needed, we dispatched a team to survey the damage. In August 2022, Mr. Walid Howaida and SAE Student Subcommittee Chairperson Mr. Amin Mahmood completed a 13-hour road trip from Kabul to the affected districts of Geyaan and Barmal in Paktika province.

During their visit, our team engaged directly with village elders to assess the community’s most urgent needs. The elders identified a critical lack of drinking water and requested the installation of deep water wells. We thoroughly evaluated this option; however, following our feasibility assessment, we determined that the construction costs for deep water wells in these remote, mountainous areas exceeded our available project budget.

While in the region, our team also held meetings with representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). UNHCR outlined their plans to construct 1,000 homes in Geyaan, 1,000 homes in Barmal, and 300 homes in the Spera district of Khost province. During these discussions, Mr. Mahmood shared his extensive structural engineering expertise with the UNHCR team to assist in their rebuilding efforts.

Direct Aid Distribution

Following our site assessments and the evaluation of viable assistance methods, we shifted our focus to providing direct financial and material relief to the victims. In October 2022, our representative successfully distributed SAE donations to 48 severely affected families located within the Geyaan and Barmal districts of Paktika province.

Educational Outreach and Academic Support

Beyond immediate humanitarian relief, we utilized this event to fulfill our mission of enhancing Afghan technical capacities. Recognizing the structural vulnerabilities of traditional mud-clay homes to seismic activity, Mr. Amin Mahmood delivered specialized presentations at both Kabul Polytechnic University and Kabul University. These sessions educated students and faculty staff on the specific effects of earthquakes on buildings and discussed mitigation strategies.

Furthermore, our outreach extended to local academic institutions within the affected regions. In September 2022, our representative traveled to Gardez to visit Paktia University. We met with senior lecturers from the civil engineering and architecture departments to introduce our society and discuss potential support. Subsequently, Mr. Hamidullah Sidiqqi, Chancellor of Paktia University, communicated directly with SAE leadership to outline the university’s urgent operational and academic needs.

Through a combination of immediate financial aid, on-site technical collaboration, and educational outreach, we remain committed to supporting the resilience and recovery of the communities in Paktika, Paktia, and Khost.