The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) prepares to break ground to build dozens of quake-proof homes for Afghan homeless families affected by the multiple massive earthquakes that devastated the country in the fall of 2023.

ADRA’s office in Afghanistan and Japan are working together to build the new seven-person homes in the Zindajan and Injil Districts of the Herat Province, which were the hardest hit by the earthquake. The structures will be constructed using earthquake-resistant technology such as flexible foundations, vibration deflection, and moment-resistant frames to ensure maximum stability and safety. ADRA is also launching a disaster education campaign in which committees and first responder teams will educate residents on disaster risk reduction techniques to strengthen community safety and resilience to future disasters.

“ADRA has been serving Afghan communities for over two decades and continues to find ways to help families affected by natural disasters and other crises. The rise in recent disasters has resulted in a high demand for shelter and emergency relief assistance. We are grateful to our donors for the opportunity to build dignified homes in communities that have suffered immensely,” says Kelly Dowling, ADRA International’s emergency response program manager. “Please keep Afghan families and ADRA in your thoughts and prayers as we work tirelessly to secure additional resources to meet the pressing needs.”

With an estimated 23 million people in Afghanistan relying on humanitarian aid for essential necessities, the need for support has never been more critical. ADRA actively monitors the situation on the ground with national and international partners and participates in crucial humanitarian assistance coordination sessions organized by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to evaluate and respond to the ongoing emergencies in the region.

The original article was published on the ADRA International website.