Statement on the earthquake in Afghanistan

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Ms. Mami Mizutori, expresses her condolences to the families of the victims of the earthquake that struck western Afghanistan on 7 October, and echoes the call made by the UN Secretary-General for the international community to come together and support people impacted by the earthquake. 

Of all natural hazards, earthquakes cause the deadliest disasters, accounting for 58% of total disaster deaths between 2000-2019. The impact of these disasters can be especially severe in countries that are experiencing fragility or instability, as vulnerabilities are already high and coping abilities are limited. The earthquake in Afghanistan comes at a time of extensive humanitarian needs and underlines the importance of investing in resilience and supporting the people of Afghanistan to build back better from disasters.