Afghanistan earthquake survivors told ActionAid of their heartbreaking losses and urgent need for support.
Survivors of a powerful earthquake in Afghanistan have told ActionAid of the heartbreaking loss they have experienced and their need for urgent support.
The 6.0 magnitude earthquake which struck eastern Afghanistan on 31 August has caused widespread devastation across the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman. More than 2,200 people have lost their lives, and at least 14,400 people have been directly affected in some of the country’s most vulnerable and remote regions.
An elderly woman supported by ActionAid shared her story: “In this earthquake, one of my daughters-in-law was killed and I have lost 8 grandchildren. All our animals were killed. We urgently need help; we have not received much support yet.”
Afghanistan is already facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with economic collapse, food insecurity, and limited access to essential services. The earthquake has compounded these challenges, leaving families with nothing.
Mohammad Irshad, from Wadeer village where ActionAid is responding said: “There was a loud explosion and then houses collapsed. No one knew what had happened to anyone else. Everyone was in shock, thinking only of survival. I lost two sons and a daughter. My sister lost four family members. All my livestock were killed, and our land was destroyed. The greatest loss was our children. This pain cannot be described. We don’t even have a plate to eat from.”
Staff and partners responding to the earthquake are facing severe obstacles, including damaged roads, unstable terrain, ongoing aftershocks, and insecurity. Despite these challenges, ActionAid is on the ground delivering food and scaling up its emergency response to provide food and non-food items such as hygiene kits and blankets, support for debris clearance and reconstruction, and emergency cash assistance to families who have lost everything.
Nastullah Ibrahimkhail, a Community Mobiliser for ActionAid Afghanistan, said: “In Noor Gull district, Kunar province, entire villages have been destroyed. People have lost loved ones, their homes, their animals. Survivors are calling for urgent support, food, shelter, and cash assistance. Most have no place to stay. They need humanitarian help now.”
Srikanta Misra, ActionAid Afghanistan Country Director, added: “In crises like this, women and girls face the highest risks. In Afghanistan, where services for women and girls have already been severely restricted, the dangers are even greater. Without shelter, many women and girls are now living outdoors, exposed to the risk of violence. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and menstruating girls need urgent and specific support. ActionAid places women and girls at the heart of our humanitarian response to ensure their needs are not overlooked.
“The earthquake has struck a region already battling severe hunger and economic hardship. With families going hungry, disasters like this push communities deeper into crisis. ActionAid is working to ensure that women-headed households and the most vulnerable families can access food and basic supplies, even as blocked roads and aftershocks continue to hamper relief efforts our team are working tirelessly to ensure needs are met.”
ActionAid is urgently appealing for donations to support those affected, visit: www.actionaid.org.uk/donate/emergency/afghanistan-earthquake-appeal
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Srikanta Misra, Country Director of ActionAid Afghanistan is available for interview. Please contact the press office at media-enquiries@actionaid.org for requests.