The earthquake brought dust, rain and storm that sounded like thunder. "We tried to run out of the house, but it collapsed behind us, trapping us under the debris," he said. 

He lay there trapped, unable to move for hours. He could hear his 3-year-old daughter crying for help, but he couldn't reach her.

Dawood was finally rescued by his neighbours, but the worst was yet to come. He learned that his brother and his other daughter had died.

"Our hearts were scared and trembling."

The village of Naeb Rafi is surrounded by a vast desert that holds the stories of its people. Life here was simple for Mahzada and her close-knit family. 

She was preparing food when the earth shook. Rushing outside, she found chaos. Walls crumbled. Her mother-in-law was killed when the house fell on her.

At night, the community found themselves in darkness, without lights or homes.

"Twenty-seven members of my family perished, and we lost everything we had."

Cultural norms and restricted social mobility play a part in who is most likely to be affected by earthquakes in Afghanistan. Women and children suffer most because they are usually the ones at home.

The overarching goal is to not only rebuild but also create resilient communities, by empowering women and creating jobs.

We are paying community members to remove debris so reconstruction can begin.

We are constructing hundreds of transitional shelters designed to endure the harsh winter and future challenges. However, thousands more are required to make a lasting impact.

Women-led community kitchens are providing work and ensuring that thousands receive daily hot meals, offering comfort and relief to those coping with hunger and trauma.