UPDATE: 1,469 lives lost and 3,700 injured in the aftermath of a devastating magnitude-6.0 earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan late on October 8, 2023. Rescue teams are racing against time as they struggle to reach isolated survivors amid obstructed access and ongoing aftershocks.
The quake, which hit the mountainous region bordering Pakistan, collapsed mud-brick homes while families slept, leaving many trapped beneath the rubble. The vast majority of the casualties occurred in Kunar Province, with additional fatalities reported in surrounding areas like Nangarhar and Laghman provinces.
Survivors are fearful, huddling outdoors to avoid potential aftershocks that could topple damaged structures. A local resident, Awrangzeeb Noori, shared, “Everyone is afraid and there are many aftershocks. We spend all day and night in the field without shelter.”
As humanitarian groups mobilize, the non-governmental organization Save the Children reported that its teams trekked over 12 miles to deliver medical supplies to remote villages cut off by rockfalls. Meanwhile, the World Food Programme shared photos of aid workers carrying food supplies up treacherous slopes.
Taliban officials, including deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat, confirmed that while some areas have been reached, others remain inaccessible due to harsh terrain. “We cannot determine the date for finishing the operation in all areas,” Fitrat stated.
The earthquake has directly affected more than 12,000 people, with women and girls facing heightened vulnerability under the current regime. In Jalalabad, residents are stepping up to help, donating essentials like blankets and cash to support those impacted. One local, Mohammad Rahman, expressed his solidarity, saying, “I am a simple labourer… I helped with what I had.”
Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis is compounded by widespread poverty, with approximately 85 percent of the population living on less than $1 a day. The country is grappling with severe drought and rising numbers of refugees returning home, further straining resources. The Norwegian Refugee Council warned that the situation could worsen as neighboring Pakistan continues to push for the expulsion of Afghan nationals, with over 6,300 crossing the Torkham border on Tuesday.
With this being the third significant earthquake since the Taliban regained control in 2021, aid efforts are severely hampered by the government’s dwindling resources. The United Nations reports that even before this disaster, it had secured less than a third of the necessary funding for operations in Afghanistan.
In response to the urgent need for aid, the Taliban’s defense ministry announced it has conducted 155 helicopter flights to evacuate nearly 2,000 injured individuals to regional hospitals. Emergency camps have been established in affected districts to facilitate aid coordination, including the burial of the deceased and rescue operations.
As the international community watches closely, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Aid organizations urge immediate support to prevent further loss of life in an already fragile country. The call for urgent humanitarian aid is loud and clear: Afghanistan needs help NOW.
