The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is preparing to break ground to build dozens of quake-proof homes for homeless Afghan families affected by the multiple massive earthquakes that devastated the country in the fall of 2023.
ADRA’s offices in Afghanistan and Japan are working together to build the new seven-person homes in the Zindajan and Injil districts of Herat Province, which were the hardest hit by the earthquake. According to ADRA, 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 more than two decades and continues to find ways to help families affected by natural disasters and other crises,” said Kelly Dowling, ADRA International’s emergency response program manager. “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. 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.
According to ADRA, the structures will be constructed using earthquake-resistant technology, providing shelter to people surviving in makeshift tents. [Photo: ADRA] 
ADRA’s offices 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. [Photo: ADRA] 
People are living in extremely dire conditions after the devastating 2023 earthquakes. [Photo: ADRA]
About ADRA
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is the international humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church serving more than 120 countries. Through more than 1,600 projects, the agency has served 25.3 million people around the world regardless of their ethnicity, political affiliation, gender, or religious association.
ADRA’s work empowers communities and changes lives around the globe by providing sustainable community development and disaster relief. By partnering with local communities, organizations, and governments, ADRA is able to deliver culturally relevant programs and build local capability for sustainable change, the organization reported.
Following its motto “Justice. Compassion. Love,” ADRA’s purpose is to serve humanity so all may live as God intended.
The original version of this story was posted by ADRA International.
