UN Warns Of Urgent Aid Needs As Afghanistan Earthquake Toll Passes 2,000

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that the humanitarian toll from recent earthquakes in Afghanistan's eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar is far greater than first feared. More than 2,000 people are reported dead and thousands of homes have been reduced to rubble.

According to OCHA's latest situation report, at least 5,902 families-equivalent to more than 38,000 people-have been affected across both provinces. More than 5,000 houses have been completely destroyed, leaving survivors without shelter as winter approaches. The agency confirmed at least 1,475 deaths, including 400 women and nearly 400 children.

The Taliban authorities, however, say the figures are even higher, claiming that more than 2,200 people were killed and 3,600 others injured. Rescue efforts have been slowed by blocked roads and damaged infrastructure, which have made reaching some of the hardest-hit villages extremely difficult.

Despite these challenges, OCHA said that more than 43,000 ready-to-eat meals, 1,100 family tents, and hundreds of non-food relief packages have already been distributed. Drinking water, medical care, and safe spaces for children have reached communities in Chawkay and Nurgul districts.

To overcome access problems, the UN has deployed a special helicopter to transport aid and personnel into remote mountain valleys. Flights are scheduled to begin from September 11, enabling a faster response. OCHA stressed that given the scale of the devastation, Afghanistan urgently requires increased global support to prevent further suffering.

Kunar lies along Afghanistan's rugged eastern border with Pakistan. Its steep mountains and fragile infrastructure make it highly vulnerable to earthquakes, floods, and landslides. Rescue operations in the province are often hampered by remote terrain, poor road links, and widespread poverty.

Nangarhar, one of Afghanistan's most populous provinces, is strategically located along the Torkham crossing into Pakistan. The province has endured decades of conflict and repeated natural disasters. Rural districts, where homes are built with mud and stone, are particularly at risk during earthquakes, leaving thousands exposed when disasters strike.

Afghanistan's humanitarian needs remain among the highest in the world, with millions relying on international assistance. Following the earthquakes, the UN, Red Crescent, and NGOs mobilized emergency aid, but underfunding and political challenges limit the scale of response. Aid groups warn that without urgent and expanded international support, especially for shelter and food, survivors face worsening conditions as winter nears.

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