Save the Children has reported that, following the deadly earthquake in eastern Afghanistan and the blockage of routes to hospitals, babies are being delivered in tents.
In a newly released report, the organization stated that around 11,000 women in the earthquake-affected areas are currently pregnant and, in the coming months amid the harsh winter, will be forced to give birth in tents. The lack of proper shelter at the onset of winter puts the health of both mothers and newborns at serious risk.
The report adds that in the districts worst affected by the deadly quakes in eastern Afghanistan, 9 out of 10 families have relocated to tents, while around 40,000 children are living in the open air.
It further noted that the risk of large rockfalls after the earthquake, coupled with snowfall during the winter, has raised villagers’ concerns about mobility and safety.
Save the Children stressed that in the winter season, access routes to some of the affected areas may remain blocked for weeks.
The organization also warned that, in addition to these challenges, the constant threat of rockslides persists, and some villages are still only accessible on foot.
The report estimates that around half a million people affected by the earthquakes in eastern Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian assistance, while more than 8,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged.
Quoting Samira Syed Rahman, Director of Programs and Advocacy at Save the Children in Afghanistan, the report stated: “No newborn should take their first breath in a tent. No child should be without shoes, warm clothing, or heating as winter approaches.”
She warned that cold weather threatens the health of newborns and children, weakens their immune systems, and increases their vulnerability to acute respiratory infections.
The Save the Children official called for urgent funding to support children and pregnant women.
Following the deadly earthquake earlier this month in eastern Afghanistan, more than 2,000 people — most of them women and children — were killed, and around 2,000 others injured. However, according to the latest figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 1,992 people lost their lives and 3,631 others were injured.
