Urgent Aid Needed for Afghanistan Earthquake Victims

As the international community responds to the devastating aftermath of a magnitude 6 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, a senior UN aid coordination official has urged for urgent action to support victims. "We saw families whose lives had been shattered just within a few minutes," said Shannon O'Hara, head of strategy for OCHA in Afghanistan. The earthquake has left nearly 40,000 people affected, with over 5,000 homes destroyed and families in dire need of support.

Key Takeaways:

• 49 damaged villages in Nangarhar, Kunar, and nearby affected provinces in eastern Afghanistan have been reached by OCHA, with humanitarian workers struggling to access more regions.
• Nearly 40,000 people have been impacted by the earthquake, and over 5,000 homes have been destroyed.
• Emergency responders are prioritizing aid to women, children, and locals with disabilities, with a focus on ensuring women are represented in health teams and receiving support from aid workers.
• 11,600 pregnant women have been affected by the destruction, with concerns raised about maternal mortality rates in the region.
• Cholera endemic in the area, and initial assessments indicate that 92% of affected communities are practicing open defecation, a risk of disease outbreak.

Statistics:

• 49 villages reached by OCHA in affected areas
• 40,000 people impacted by the earthquake
• 5,000 homes destroyed
• 11,600 pregnant women affected
• 92% of affected communities practicing open defecation
• 43,000 victims received ready-to-eat meals
• 10 million USD released by OCHA for life-saving supplies
• 80 metric tonnes of emergency health supplies delivered by WHO since the disaster

Sources:

• United Nations News, September 2025, "Senior UN aid coordination official urges urgent action for earthquake victims, warns of disease outbreak"