KUNAR, Afghanistan (dawatmedia24) – The United Nations has issued a stark warning and an urgent call to action, emphasizing that the immediate reconstruction of homes is critical for the survival of communities devastated by a powerful earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan last month.
The appeal from the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) comes as affected families, having lost everything, face the harsh approach of winter without adequate shelter. The 5.9 magnitude quake struck near the city of Khost in the early hours of August 31, with its tremors severely impacting the mountainous provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Panjsher, and Nuristan.
A Catastrophic Toll
The human and structural cost of the disaster is staggering. Official government figures, cited by the UN, report a death toll of at least 2,217 people, with the vast majority—2,205—in Kunar province alone. A further 3,640 individuals were injured in Kunar, with additional casualties reported in neighboring regions. Beyond the tragic loss of life, the quake erased entire villages from the map, with initial reports indicating that 6,782 houses were completely destroyed, leaving thousands of families exposed to the elements.
“In a matter of moments, people lost everything—their homes, their livelihoods, and, for many, their loved ones,” UN-Habitat stated in a post on the social media platform X. The agency underscored that the crisis extends beyond immediate shelter, as the destruction of homes also means the loss of community assets, livestock, and any sense of stability.
A Race Against Time and a Call for Resilient Reconstruction
The urgency of the situation was highlighted firsthand by Stephanie Loose, the Head of UN-Habitat, during a recent visit to the hardest-hit areas in Kunar province. She witnessed the widespread devastation and the dire conditions in which survivors are now living.
“Reconstruction needs to start now,” the agency declared. However, this call to rebuild is coupled with a critical imperative: “We must build in a more stable and earthquake-resilient manner.”
This focus on resilience is crucial in a region prone to seismic activity. Many of the homes destroyed were traditional mud-brick structures, highly vulnerable to collapse during earthquakes. Aid agencies and engineering experts are now advocating for the use of proven, low-cost earthquake-resistant techniques, such as reinforced foundations and walls, to ensure that rebuilt communities are safer and more durable against future disasters.
A Compounding Crisis
The earthquake has exacerbated an already severe humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The country is grappling with a crippled economy, widespread poverty, and a healthcare system on the brink of collapse. The onset of winter in the coming weeks threatens to cut off remote mountain villages and dramatically increases the risk of exposure-related illnesses and deaths among those without proper shelter.
International aid organizations are mobilizing, but the response faces significant logistical and financial challenges. Delivering construction materials to remote, rugged terrain is a massive undertaking, and funding for the large-scale, long-term reconstruction effort remains a pressing concern.
The UN’s urgent appeal highlights a critical window of opportunity to not only provide immediate relief but to “build back better,” offering shattered communities a foundation for a safer and more secure future.
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