"The whole city is eerily quiet."
In Afghanistan, the full extent of the destruction caused by the earthquake has now become clear. More than 1,000 people, including at least 155 children, have died. Tens of thousands of people are homeless. We are collecting donations to help children and families. Mohammad Osman from our partner organization AWEC is currently in the earthquake zone and answered three questions for us about the current situation.
Where are you right now and what is the situation for children?
At first, we thought there would be screams and noise everywhere, but instead, the whole city is eerily quiet. The situation is very difficult for children because instead of playing or going to school, they see dead family members and collapsed houses. They are still in shock and now see emergency workers, ambulances, and helicopters everywhere. I also met children who were completely alone and were looking for a place to sleep or rest.
What is the biggest challenge right now?
The biggest challenges in the region are providing shelter for the children and families and supplying them with food and clean drinking water. At the same time, we must care for children who have lost their parents.
What are the donations collected by Terre des Hommes in Germany used for?
Tents for shelter, clean drinking water, blankets, and food are being sent. But people also desperately need cash to rebuild their homes. Right now, everything is in short supply, so we urgently need support from abroad.