FAO's response to the 2023 earthquakes in Afghanistan

On 7 October 2023, two consecutive earthquakes with high macroseismic intensity categorized at 6.3 magnitude hit western Afghanistan at around 07.00 (UTC +4.30). The earthquakes mostly impacted several villages in Zindajan district, west of Herat city in Herat province, and have caused devastating loss of life and injuries across the region. The Data in Emergencies (DIEM) team at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) examined satellite images over the period to understand the impact and published a StoryMap including recommendations on 9 October 2023 (FAO, 2023a). This StoryMap provides an update about the efforts of the FAO Representation in Afghanistan to provide response activities based on the recommendations in the October 2023 StoryMap to support the recovery from the impact of the earthquakes on agriculture and livelihoods in the affected area together with the main findings of the damages and losses assessment. This StoryMap also provides information about the needs and related responses as a powerful way of illustrating pathways from evidence to programming, and demonstrating the importance and usefulness of DIEM-Impact data.