Nearly 10,000 homes built for quake-hit Heratis

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): A year after the devastating earthquake in western Herat province, authorities say nearly 10,000 homes have been built for the affected people.

Director of Information and Culture MaulviAhmadullah Muttaqi , told a press conference the construction of houses and assistance for the affected people continued to be a priority for the government.

Muttaqi, who is also the spokesman for the commission addressing the victims, said that the earthquake in Herat had caused the people significant psychological, financial and cultural harm.

He added that over the past year, a total of 9,622 homes have been built for the earthquake victims by the government, aid organizations, partner institutions, traders, the public, and philanthropists.

The government was systematically addressing the issues and providing comprehensive services to the victims in the districts and other vulnerable areas.

According to him, IEA is fully committed to supplying necessary resources to the affected areas.

However, residents of Herat and the victims of last year’s earthquakes describe the event as a painful and unforgettable tragedy.

Mullah Abdullah, a survivor from Zinda Jan district, told Pajhwok he lost five family members along with all his possessions in the disaster.

He said that he would never forget the moment when his family members were dying under the rubble, and he was powerless to help them.

Six months after the tragedy, he has been allotted a home in the Siyah Aab area of Zinda Jan,. He appreciates the government and aid organisations for their support.

With the arrival of the winter season, he urges the government and other aid agencies to pay attention to Zinda Jan and other affected districts.

In October last year, Herat was rattled by a massive temblor and aftershocks, which officials claim resulted in the deaths of over 2,000 individuals, including men, women and children, and injured more than 4,000 others.

sa/mud