KARACHI: A UN-led assessment says Afghanistan requires $128.8 million to restore housing, schools and key services in its quake-hit eastern provinces, warning that reconstruction faces “significant shortfalls” as donor support for the country falls sharply. The Joint Rapid Recovery Needs Assessment (JRRNA), conducted with the World Bank, EU and ADB, outlines a three-year plan to rebuild homes, health facilities, water systems and farmland in the eastern provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar and Laghman.
“The earthquakes-hit communities are already strained by drought, mass returns and a sharp economic contraction,” UN Resident Representative Stephen Rodriguez said. “There is very limited capacity left to cope with another shock.”
The JRRNA says the quakes caused $86.6 million in damage across 10 districts, affecting 56,000 families, with more than 6,200 homes collapsed, 2,000 severely damaged, and 22 health facilities and 80 schools hit. The full recovery bill is higher at $128.8 million. Housing is the biggest challenge, costing $54.9 million to rebuild thousands of homes. Education needs $14.9 million, with more funding needed for water, irrigation, farmland and rural roads. — Reuters
