Paktika: In a major relief effort for communities devastated by the June 2022 earthquake in southeastern Afghanistan, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has officially handed over 1,000 permanent homes to families in Gayan district, Paktika province.
The housing initiative, which cost $7.8 million, also includes the construction of a school and a healthcare clinic to support the long-term recovery and wellbeing of the affected population.
According to UNHCR's country representative, Arafat Jamal, the housing project was developed in close coordination with local communities. "We have worked with the community to construct 1,000 durable shelters, which are now home to 7,000 people—two-thirds of whom are women and girls,” Jamal stated.
Local authorities have welcomed the project, with Hamdullah Fateh, head of the Department of Refugees and Repatriation in Paktika, confirming that the entire package—including the homes, clinic, and school—was delivered within the $7.8 million budget.
The June 2022 earthquake, one of the deadliest in Afghanistan in recent years, struck Gayan and Barmal districts, displacing thousands and destroying critical infrastructure. Despite ongoing aid efforts, officials report that at least 250 families in Gayan remain without proper shelter.
Local communities and humanitarian groups continue to call for sustained international support to fully rebuild the region and ensure no family is left behind.
