“Water and toilets is more urgent than food,” read the text message from the missionaries in Afghanistan after a deadly earthquake claimed the lives of more than 2,200 people about two weeks ago.
The earthquake and aftershocks have left tens of thousands of people homeless without food, water, and sanitation, but the situation with water is extremely dangerous.
The destruction of sanitation systems and water sources combined with decomposed bodies and debris has created a public health crisis, with widespread water contamination and a high risk of waterborne diseases. Children and women have been most affected by this.
BTJ is working together with secret believers on the ground who have been visiting and ministering in the areas most affected by the earthquake and they have been sending photos of the children who have been hit the hardest. Below are a few of the pictures of the children in the area.
Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, the people have faced a serious shortage of all resources, including access to clean water. Before the earthquake it was estimated that at least 1/3rd of Afghanistan lacked access to clean water, but now those numbers have gone up.
Because of war, Islamic extremism, and serious mismanagement of resources, it is estimated that the capital city of Kabul will be out of water by 2030.
This severe lack of clean, safe water is leading to a serious humanitarian crisis that is already contributing to widespread dehydration and waterborne diseases, especially among children. The lack of clean water disproportionately affects women and girls who must travel long distances to collect water.
This problem has now been exacerbated by the earthquake and thousands might die if immediate help is not provided.
For security purposes, we cannot disclose how we are meeting the need for this water sanitation problem, but any donation to the BTJ humanitarian disaster relief fund will be sent 100% to the workers on the ground in Afghanistan to help with this effort.
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