A Japanese WHO official in Afghanistan has described the situation there a week after two magnitude 6.3 earthquakes struck the country's western province of Herat.

NHK spoke on Friday with Takeuchi Akiko, who works for the World Health Organization in Afghanistan. Since last Sunday, the day after the disaster occurred, she had provided support to earthquake survivors for four days.

Takeuchi surveyed Herat to assess the extent of damage, and provided public health and medical support.

She said the situation was much worse than she had anticipated, and that village after village has been reduced to rubble.
Takeuchi said many of survivors are women and children as some men had been away from home working when the quakes struck. She said there are cases in which entire families have been lost.

Takeuchi said some people are living in tents and are in need of water and food.

She expressed concerns about malnutrition among children, and the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID and cholera.

Takeuchi said the mental health of people who had lost their loved ones is a challenge, and that they will need long-term care.

As quakes continue to jolt the country, the WHO supports quake survivors by delivering medical supplies and conducting training for psychological care providers.

Takeuchi said the WHO is working to offer sustainable health services in cooperation with other health care groups in the country.

She said she hopes the world community doesn't forget about the Afghan people's plight. She worries the situation there is being overshadowed by the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Palestinian territories.