Calgary’s Afghan community grieving, seeking ways to help following deadly earthquake

An earthquake in Afghanistan killed an estimated 1,400 people. Here in Calgary, the local community is raising funds to help.

Canada is offering condolences and humanitarian support in the wake of a devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan that has killed more than 1,400 people and injured over 3,000.

Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on X, formerly Twitter:

“The aftermath of the earthquake in Afghanistan is horrific. Hundreds of lives lost, families displaced, and communities facing unimaginable hardship. As the Afghan people recover and rebuild, Canada stands ready to provide humanitarian support through our partners.”

Global Affairs Canada said it is not aware of any Canadian citizens affected.

“Our condolences are with those who have lost family and loved ones in this tragedy,” the department said in a statement to CTV News.

Canadians abroad are being urged to register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service and to reach Ottawa’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre for consular assistance if needed.

In Calgary, members of the Afghan community are grieving while trying to find ways to help.

Mohammad Masood Amery, a director of the Afghan Cultural and Educational Society of Calgary, said the tragedy has shaken the community.

“What happened in Afghanistan—it was like a nightmare, actually. It was unbelievable. No one just stopped crying here,” he said.

Amery said “everyone’s heart” is hurting.

He said his wife lost 13 relatives in the disaster.

“(A) very close cousin of my wife, we just talked with them. He lost 13 people from one family. And another one, he lost like seven people from one family. And another family, they have just only a six-year(-old) kid still alive,” he said.

“There, everyone’s dad, mom, brother—everyone—just died with this and disappeared.”

His organization has launched a fundraising campaign.

Latifa Majidi, who once ran a women’s education and business program in Afghanistan backed by the World Bank, said the earthquake response is made harder by Taliban restrictions.

She fled to Canada after the Taliban takeover in 2021 but still has family living under their rule.

“It’s the worst-case scenario now, because no women are in humanitarian assistance. Who will help (those) women?” she said.

“They do not allow men to touch that (injured) woman, and at that time (all) they are caring about is where is the hijab? Who should touch that lady? No one is there to help them.”

She said the lack of resources and expertise makes the situation even more dire.

“These people are helpless. There are no good services for help if they are sick, if they are injured, and there is no medication, no medicine, no experts,” she said.

Canadian aid groups are also mobilizing.

Stephanie Christensen, executive director of ShelterBox Canada, said her organization is working with a local partner inside Afghanistan.

“We focus primarily on shelter and the supplies that people need to repair and rebuild after disasters and conflict around the world. So we’re working with a local partner in Afghanistan, based in the heavily affected regions, to make sure that we’re getting emergency shelter to people,” she said.

“Right now, they are sleeping out in the open and have lost everything as temperatures are starting to drop.”

Christensen said tents will be the first priority.

“In this situation in Afghanistan with so much debris right now, with continuing aftershocks, it’s not the time to start rebuilding yet, and there’s not the space to repair shelters. So tents are going to be No. 1,“ said Christensen.

“We’re going to procure really robust tents that are going to keep people warm at night and allow people a safe place to start to recover.”

The 6.0 magnitude quake struck late Sunday in Kunar province near Jalalabad, toppling homes made of mud bricks and wood while families slept.

A 5.2 aftershock shook the same region hours later.

The Taliban government has reported the casualties for Kunar province alone and established camps to co-ordinate burials, medical evacuations and supply distribution.

International assistance is beginning to arrive, though it is largely routed through humanitarian agencies rather than the Taliban government, which is recognized only by Russia.

The United Kingdom has pledged £1 million ($1.3 million), the European Union is sending 130 tonnes of emergency supplies and €1 million ($1.16 million) and the United Arab Emirates, India and China have also promised support.

United Nations officials say rescue efforts face severe challenges.

“We cannot afford to forget the people of Afghanistan who are facing multiple crises, multiple shocks, and the resilience of the communities has been saturated,” said Indrika Ratwatte, the UN’s resident co-ordinator for Afghanistan.

Charlie Goodlake, head of external relations at UNHCR Afghanistan, said access is limited.

“We are desperately trying to reach people,” he said.

“We’re rushing people, supplies, to try and meet the most urgent needs, in support of the people affected and the authorities already operating in the area.”