Saving lives beyond vaccination: Polio teams on the front lines of Kunar earthquake response

A camp for families displaced by the earthquake in Andarlacak village, Kunar province. © WHO/EMRO

When a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Kunar province in the middle of the night in September 2025, polio workers supported by the World Health Organization were among the first responders. Once the tremor stopped, they rushed to help rescue the injured, provide first aid, and support emergency medical teams.

Polio workers helped pull survivors from the rubble, set up temporary clinics, and coordinate the delivery of medical supplies and trauma care. They also helped direct UN agencies and NGOs to the most affected villages, ensuring that aid reached the most remote areas.

The polio control team worked around the clock to support rescue operations and provide critical relief.

Here they reflect on their experiences.

Mehrab, polio vaccinator, Diwagal village, Chowki district, Kunar province

“When the earthquake happened, I was at home sleeping. I woke up to the violent shaking of the house and the terrified screams of people outside. When I ran out into the darkness, I saw a devastating scene – houses collapsed, dust billowing into the night air, and the cries of injured neighbors echoed through the village.

Without hesitation, I ran towards the destruction and started rescuing people trapped under the rubble. She provided first aid to the wounded and then assisted health workers upon their arrival in the village. I also coordinated with all the polio vaccination workers in the area so that we could work together to rescue the wounded and provide immediate first aid.

It was a tragedy the likes of which our village had never witnessed. I lost relatives, friends and neighbors that night, yet I pushed myself to continue helping as many people as possible. In the following days, she helped set up tents for displaced families and participated in distributing food to those who had lost their homes.

I have worked with the polio eradication program in Diwagal for two years, and during the response I used my local knowledge to direct partners and other UN agencies to the most affected areas and to help identify where support was needed most.

Despite the sadness and loss, I am proud that I was able to help my community during such a difficult time.

“I did everything in my power – day and night – to save my people and direct help to every village. Despite the huge loss, I am proud to have stood by my community when they needed me most during the earthquake.”

Ahmed Ishaq, Boli district officer, Tal district

“I was at home when I received the news of a strong earthquake in a village in my area. Immediately, I started calling my relatives who could be reached by phone to collect preliminary information – how many houses had been destroyed and what the most urgent needs were. Early the next morning, I traveled to the affected village.

When I arrived, the devastation was massive. Most of the houses have collapsed, many people have died or been injured, and community members are still trying to rescue survivors from under the rubble. In coordination with community elders, we quickly established several committees, including one responsible for transporting the wounded to hospitals and another to assess people's needs and coordinate support from UN agencies and NGOs.

I worked closely with the Kunar Health Department to recruit medical teams where they were needed most and supported them in setting up temporary clinics throughout the village. It also helped distribute WHO emergency kits to affected areas and to those in need of immediate treatment. At the same time, I kept the regional polio team updated on the situation as it arose.

During the response, I learned of a remote village where several people were seriously injured, but the area was not accessible by car. After learning of their condition, I contacted the district governor, shared the information with him, and requested that a helicopter be sent to evacuate the wounded. After my report, the governor coordinated a helicopter mission that successfully transported the injured to the area hospital for treatment.

Looking back, I am really proud of the role I played during this emergency and the support I was able to help mobilize for the affected communities.

“I am truly proud that my actions helped coordinate medical teams, distribute emergency kits, and evacuate casualties from remote areas.”

Dr. Sardar Tayyab, Coordinator of the Polio Eradication Initiative in Kunar Province

“At midnight, I received news that an earthquake had struck several areas across the province. As soon as I learned of the devastation, I instructed all district polio control officers, district polio control officers, and polio vaccinators to immediately reach the affected areas and assist the affected communities.

At 2 a.m., we held an emergency meeting in the Kunar Health Directorate to coordinate support to the affected areas in cooperation with UN agencies and NGOs. After this meeting, I contacted the WHO Emergency Program in the Eastern Province and arranged for emergency and trauma kits to be provided to areas affected by the earthquake.

Because I am familiar with all parts of the province – including areas severely affected by the earthquake – I worked closely with other agencies and NGOs, directing them where to provide assistance and where to set up temporary clinics. It also provided them with important information about each site, including the extent of destruction, the size of the population, and the specific types of support required.

I am extremely proud of the entire polio team – the Regional Polio Officers, District Polio Control Officers, supervisors and vaccinators – who played an exceptional role throughout the response. They rescued people from rubble, provided emergency medical care, helped set up temporary clinics, and coordinated basic health services for affected communities.

“In the darkest hours of the night, our polio team became first responders – rescuing people, providing emergency care and directing life-saving support to each affected village.”

Protecting children after emergencies

A child receives a polio vaccine at a camp for those displaced by the earthquake in Khas Kunar. © WHO/EMRO

After the earthquake, displaced families faced an increased risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, especially among children living in crowded temporary shelters. To reduce this risk, the polio team immediately launched vaccination activities in camps and temporary settlements.

Children received oral polio vaccine (OPV), inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), and measles vaccination to help prevent a secondary outbreak after the disaster. Monthly rounds of polio vaccination continued without interruption in the following weeks.

The response in Kunar highlights how the polio program supports communities not only by preventing the disease, but also by responding to emergencies – staying on the front lines to protect children before, during and after crises.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos