Herat Post-Earthquake Community Needs Assessment - Kushk District, Herat Province

The Herat Post-Earthquake Community Needs Assessment (September 2025) was conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) under its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) programme in Afghanistan. The assessment follows four major earthquakes that struck Herat province in October 2023 and builds on a previous 2024 assessment to monitor longitudinal recovery trends. Covering nine vulnerable communities in Kushk district, the report analyzes conditions across water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health, shelter and non-food items (NFIs), livelihoods, education, and humanitarian access.

Findings indicate worsening access to safe drinking water and sanitation, with access to basic or safely managed water declining from 68 per cent in 2024 to 51 per cent in 2025. Water scarcity, drought, and non-functioning water points were identified as major challenges. Livelihoods remain fragile, heavily dependent on agriculture and daily wage labor, both affected by drought and declining productivity. High levels of household debt and reliance on borrowing reflect deepening economic vulnerability. Shelter conditions also remain precarious, with damage to doors, windows, and roofs commonly reported.

The assessment highlights persistent barriers to healthcare, limited school attendance beyond primary level—especially for girls—and gaps in awareness of humanitarian assistance mechanisms. It underscores the interconnected impact of seismic shocks, climate stressors, displacement (including returns from Iran), and economic hardship. The report provides evidence to inform humanitarian programming and recovery planning aimed at improving resilience and access to essential services in earthquake-affected rural communities.