UN Sounds Alarm as Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Climbs Beyond 2,000

Deadly earthquakes in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Kunar provinces have killed more than 2,000 people, destroyed thousands of homes, and left tens of thousands urgently reliant on international aid.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that the humanitarian toll from the quakes is far greater than initially feared. More than 2,000 people are reported dead, with thousands of homes reduced to rubble. Entire communities have been flattened in remote mountain districts where access remains extremely limited.

According to OCHA’s latest situation report, at least 5,902 families—equivalent to more than 38,000 people—have been directly affected. More than 5,000 houses have been completely destroyed, leaving survivors exposed to the elements as winter approaches. The agency confirmed at least 1,475 deaths, including 400 women and nearly 400 children, though local authorities report even higher figures. The Taliban’s Ministry of Disaster Management claims that more than 2,200 people were killed and 3,600 others injured, warning that the number could rise further as rescuers reach isolated areas.

Rescue efforts have been slowed by blocked roads, collapsed bridges, and damaged infrastructure, making it nearly impossible to reach some of the hardest-hit villages in the mountainous terrain. Families are reportedly digging through rubble with their bare hands in desperate attempts to recover loved ones.

Despite these challenges, humanitarian agencies have begun distributing emergency relief. OCHA reports that more than 43,000 ready-to-eat meals, 1,100 family tents, and hundreds of non-food relief packages have already reached affected districts. Communities in Chawkay and Nurgul have also received drinking water, medical care, and safe spaces for children. To overcome access problems, the UN has deployed a special helicopter to transport aid and personnel into remote valleys. Flights are scheduled to begin on September 11, enabling a faster and more coordinated response.

Kunar province, lying along Afghanistan’s rugged eastern border with Pakistan, is highly vulnerable to earthquakes, floods, and landslides. Its steep mountains, fragile roads, and widespread poverty leave residents at constant risk. Nangarhar, one of Afghanistan’s most populous provinces, is strategically located along the Torkham crossing into Pakistan. The region has endured decades of conflict, insurgency, and repeated natural disasters. Rural districts, where homes are constructed from mud and stone, are particularly vulnerable to seismic activity.

Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis—already among the world’s worst—has been deepened by the disaster. Decades of war, recurring droughts, and economic collapse under Taliban rule have left more than two-thirds of the population in need of aid. International funding shortfalls and political restrictions have further strained relief operations.

The International Red Crescent, Médecins Sans Frontières, and several NGOs are mobilizing resources, but humanitarian groups warn that without urgent and expanded support, survivors face worsening conditions in the weeks ahead. Food insecurity, a lack of adequate shelter, and the onset of winter could push communities into further catastrophe.

OCHA and aid organizations have issued an urgent appeal for international donors to step up assistance. They emphasize that beyond immediate relief, long-term investment is needed to strengthen Afghanistan’s disaster preparedness and build resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding future natural shocks.

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