A devastating magnitude‑6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, claiming at least 1,469 lives and injuring over 3,700 people, according to Taliban authorities. The shallow quake razed mud‑brick homes and inflicted enormous damage in the mountainous region bordering Pakistan—making it one of the deadliest in decades.
In the quake’s aftermath, survivors grapple with frequent aftershocks and blocked roads, forcing many to sleep outdoors, too fearful to return inside damaged structures. In Dara‑i‑Nur, Nangarhar province, 35‑year‑old Awangzeeb Noori shared, “Everyone is afraid… we spend all day and night in the field without shelter.”
Humanitarian access remains severely constrained. Aftershocks have triggered rockfalls in remote villages, isolating communities. Save the Children reports that one of its teams had to trek 20 kilometers on foot carrying medical supplies and aided by locals to reach stranded survivors.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has scaled up its emergency response, calling for $4 million to power mobile clinics and distribute critical health supplies. A WHO emergency team leader stressed, “Every hour counts… Hospitals are struggling, families are grieving and survivors have lost everything.”
Taliban officials say rescue teams have reached some areas after several days, though many remain inaccessible due to treacherous terrain. Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy government spokesman, noted the challenges of rescue operations in such mountainous regions and avoided giving an end date for reaching all affected locations.
Local communities have stepped up to help. In nearby Jalalabad, residents organized donations—giving blankets and essentials. One local laborer, Mohammad Rahman, said, “I came here to help the earthquake victims because I felt very sad for them.”
The disaster has only intensified Afghanistan’s long‑standing crisis. With 85% of its population surviving on less than a dollar per day, the nation is confronted with chronic poverty, recurring droughts, and an influx of returnees from neighboring countries following the Taliban’s takeover. The situation is further complicated by significant reductions in U.S. and international aid since early 2021.
In response, the Taliban government mobilized 155 helicopter flights within two days to evacuate approximately 2,000 injured people and their relatives to hospitals in safer areas. Additionally, emergency camps were established in Khas Kunar and other districts near the epicenter to coordinate relief, medical services, and burials.
Afghanistan remains highly prone to seismic activity. Just two years ago, in October 2023, a magnitude‑6.3 quake devastated western Herat province destroying tens of thousands of homes and claiming more lives.
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