UNHCR hands over a thousand earthquake-resistant houses to Afghan families in Paktika

KABUL, May 12: Nearly three years after a deadly earthquake levelled parts of southeastern Afghanistan, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has delivered 1,000 newly built, earthquake-resistant homes to families in Giyan district, Paktika Province.
Part of a $6.26 million recovery initiative, the homes will provide permanent shelter to around 7,000 people-mostly women and children-displaced or left vulnerable by the June 2022 quake. A formal handover ceremony took place on Sunday.
“Today’s handover is not only about roofs over heads, but about dignity, resilience, and a fresh start,” said Arafat Jamal, UNHCR’s representative in Afghanistan, reports AMU.
“It shows what’s possible when communities and humanitarian partners stand together in hope and solidarity.”
Constructed using local materials such as burnt bricks and insulated roofing, each home includes a family latrine. Built under a cash-assistance model, families oversaw construction with technical guidance from UNHCR’s partner, the Afghan Community and Health Rehabilitation Organization (ACHRO). Work was completed in three closely monitored phases to ensure quality and transparency.
The project also delivered essential services, including a hospital, a religious school, and other community facilities.
The 2022 earthquake killed over 1,000 people and injured more than 1,500, leaving thousands without shelter across Giyan and neighbouring Barmal.
UNHCR’s broader reconstruction efforts in the region-encompassing schools, health clinics, and medical equipment-have reached over 45,000 people, backed by a total investment exceeding $7.8 million, including $3 million from the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan.
UNHCR says the initiative reflects a long-term commitment to community-led recovery in one of Afghanistan’s hardest-hit areas.
(UNI)

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