Devastation Strikes: Urgent Aid Efforts Underway to Rebuild Lives After Afghanistan Quake Wipes Out Villages
Secretary-General António Guterres expressed profound solidarity with the Afghan people following a devastating earthquake that struck the country earlier today. In an online message, he extended heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and wished a swift recovery for those injured. He assured that the United Nations team in Afghanistan is mobilized and fully committed to providing aid to affected regions.
Reports indicate significant destruction across four eastern provinces, particularly in Nangarhar and Kunar, where UN agencies are actively engaged in relief efforts. Eyewitness accounts suggest that many homes in remote hillside communities collapsed, with structures tumbling onto one another. “When an earthquake of this magnitude occurs, houses can easily fall on top of each other,” noted Salam Al-Jabani from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Tragically, the quake struck shortly before midnight, catching families off guard as they slept, contributing to the scale of the losses.
In response to the crisis, the UN Humanitarian Air Service is enhancing logistics by scheduling additional flights between Kabul and Jalalabad to facilitate the movement of personnel and crucial supplies. Witnesses reported that the earthquake occurred approximately eight kilometers underground, with tremors felt not only in Kabul but also in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. Among the agencies responding to the crisis are the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
As reports of casualties continue to emerge, WHO teams are already in local hospitals, providing medical assistance to the injured and assessing urgent health needs in the region. “We are actively delivering essential medicines and supplies and deploying health teams to affected areas to help save lives,” stated WHO representatives.
The UN’s presence in Afghanistan dates back to 1949, and its efforts are coordinated by Resident Coordinator Indrika Ratwatte, leading a diverse team of around 20 UN agencies alongside international organizations like the World Bank. Amid the ongoing crisis, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported that over 2,000 individuals may have sustained injuries in Kunar alone. Authorities fear that the trading hub of Jalalabad may also face a significant death toll.
UNHCR is among those rushing essential aid to affected areas, including medical supplies, shelter, clean water, and blankets. The agency emphasized that this natural disaster has exacerbated Afghanistan’s existing challenges, such as drought and the return of millions of displaced nationals. “The scale of this disaster far exceeds the current capacity of local authorities and communities,” warned UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch, stressing the urgent need for global donor support.
Aid teams face considerable obstacles in reaching remote communities, where some areas are only accessible by foot. OCHA highlighted the efforts of de facto authorities to clear blocked roads in affected districts, allowing for the transport of critically injured individuals to hospitals in Jalalabad and Asadabad. However, many isolated areas necessitate up to three hours of foot travel from the nearest obstruction point.
This earthquake is among the most severe to hit Afghanistan, arriving less than two years after three significant quakes struck Herat, resulting in nearly 1,500 fatalities and widespread destruction. The urgency of the current situation cannot be overstated; meaningful support is vital to alleviate the suffering of countless Afghans in need.
Original Source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2025/09/1165752
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Publish Date: 2025-09-01 17:30:00
