The recent devastating earthquakes in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat have spurred numerous fundraising initiatives. While many have stepped up to support the victims, concerns have arisen over the transparency and integrity of some fundraising efforts, notably those led by renowned Afghan artist Farhad Darya.
The magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck Herat province marked the third major quake in recent times, with the death toll from the October 8 tremors surpassing 2,000. In response to this humanitarian crisis, a wave of support emerged from both within Afghanistan and the global Afghan diaspora.
On October 15, notable Afghan artists and journalists initiated fundraising campaigns on platforms like GoFundMe, Facebook, and PayPal. Among these figures, Farhad Darya and Aryana Sayeed managed to raise an impressive sum of $70,853. Darya pledged to use these funds to construct homes for the quake-affected families. More Update
as the fundraising momentum grew, so did the skepticism. Mr. Hafiz Mohammadi, an Afghan journalist based in California, spearheaded a significant fundraising drive, amassing over $111,151. In a live stream on his YouTube channel and Facebook, Mohammadi announced the transfer of these funds to the Mohammadi Organization and local partner organizations with the intent to build houses for the victims. More Update
While these efforts garnered widespread attention and support, concerns about the handling and distribution of funds arose. GoFundMe reported that over 400 individuals set up fundraisers related to the Herat Earthquake. Additionally, Afghan diaspora communities in countries like Germany mobilized, with some collecting more than €25,000 for the victims.
Amidst these noble endeavors, reports emerged of fraudulent activities. The Afghan immigrant community in Germany, represented by individuals named Masood and Jamshid, allegedly conducted in-person fundraising drives, collecting €25,000. Disturbingly, social media platforms, particularly TikTok, circulated videos accusing these individuals of scamming the public.
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