Urgent Response Needed After Earthquake Devastates Afghanistan

Tue Sep 30 2025 06:47:00 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A recent earthquake has left Afghanistan in dire need of humanitarian assistance, with significant impacts reported in remote villages.

An initial assessment by the United Nations discovered extensive damage from a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan, affecting over 500,000 people — with urgent needs for clean water, food, and shelter as the region prepares for winter.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Following a devastating earthquake in Afghanistan, the United Nations has reported that over 5,000 homes have been destroyed, and rescue teams are struggling to reach the hardest-hit areas due to damaged roads and continuous aftershocks.

Shannon O'Hara, coordination chief for the U.N. humanitarian office in Afghanistan, stated that accessibility is highly restricted in the rugged eastern region where the earthquake struck, complicating relief efforts for those in affected villages.

The August 31 quake reportedly killed at least 2,200 people, impacting an estimated 500,000 individuals — a distressing figure that underscores the urgent need for humanitarian aid.

As O’Hara described her journey toward the epicenter, she recounted seeing families displaced and walking in the opposite direction, carrying whatever belongings they could salvage from their homes, while others bore visible signs of recent injuries.

The destruction escalated as the team approached the epicenter; entire villages were annihilated, and many families are living in overcrowded tents or under open skies, exposing them to rain and cold temperatures.

“There was no clean drinking water, nor sanitation facilities. The potential for a cholera outbreak is alarming given that the region is experiencing an endemic,” O'Hara mentioned, emphasizing the dire conditions faced by the survivors.

“The needs are overwhelming,” she stated, calling for immediate relief to provide clean water, food, shelter, and warm clothing as winter nears. The urgency is palpable, with flash floods and additional aftershocks posing further risks to the population.

The U.N. is set to issue an emergency appeal for funding to support quake survivors, reaffirming that the Taliban authorities are not obstructing relief operations. However, coordination remains crucial as many communities are at risk of being cut off with winter snows on the horizon.

As rescue efforts continue, ensuring the inclusion of women and girls in humanitarian responses has been noted as a priority to address the additional challenges posed by the ruling authorities.