In a tragic turn of events, Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have urgently requested international assistance following a devastating earthquake that has claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed entire villages. This calamity adds to the ongoing suffering in a country already plagued by food shortages and reductions in foreign aid. According to reports from the United Nations and the Taliban government, at least 800 individuals were killed, and over 2,800 were injured after a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck near the Pakistan border on Sunday.
The earthquake struck shortly before midnight, approximately 27 kilometers (16.77 miles) northeast of Jalalabad, a city with a population of around 200,000 in Nangarhar Province. This region is known for its seismic activity, as highlighted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of about 8 kilometers (4.97 miles), which typically results in increased destruction. Neighboring Kunar province was severely affected, with three villages reported completely razed. Damage was also noted in Laghman, Nuristan, and Panjshir provinces, according to local authorities and humanitarian workers.
Aftershocks followed, with at least five recorded, the strongest measuring 5.2 in magnitude. This earthquake marks the third significant seismic event to strike Afghanistan since the Taliban took over in 2021, amidst a backdrop of ongoing natural and man-made disasters, including extreme poverty, conflict, and drought.
Nearly half a million people likely experienced strong to very strong shaking, which can cause considerable damage to inadequately constructed buildings. Eyewitness accounts reveal the harrowing aftermath, with rows of brick houses buried under mud and debris. Residents struggled to locate loved ones trapped under the rubble as they anxiously awaited help from emergency responders. “I was half-buried and unable to get out,” recounted Sadiqullah, a resident of Nurgal in Kunar province, who tragically lost his wife and two sons.
In Kabul, over 100 miles from the epicenter, Ahmad Zameer described the terror felt in his neighborhood as the earthquake jolted buildings, prompting residents to rush into the streets. Video footage captured the frantic efforts of search teams digging through the rubble in Kunar province, illustrating the desperate situation as officials worked to evacuate the injured.
The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has been exacerbated by funding cuts following the Taliban's rise to power in 2021. Earlier this year, the White House halted more than $1.7 billion in American aid, a move quickly mirrored by the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Humanitarian aid to Afghanistan plummeted to $767 million in 2025, down from $3.8 billion in 2022. These cuts have severely hampered rescue operations, with the World Food Programme unable to deliver food aid by air to remote villages, as stated by Kate Carey, deputy head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan.
In light of the recent earthquake, Sherine Ibrahim, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) country director for Afghanistan, expressed concerns regarding the challenges posed by this disaster on the already strained humanitarian response. “We are profoundly fearful for the additional strain that this disaster will have on the overall humanitarian response in Afghanistan,” Ibrahim warned.
In response to the catastrophic earthquake, the Taliban have reached out for international aid, emphasizing the dire need for assistance. “We need it because here lots of people lost their lives and houses,” stated health ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman. In a positive development, the UK announced £1 million ($1.3 million) in emergency funding to assist families affected by the earthquake. This funding will be allocated to the UN Population Fund and the International Red Cross.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy reiterated the UK’s gratitude to the aid workers on the ground who are vital in providing support to Afghanistan’s most vulnerable populations. Additionally, China has expressed its readiness to offer disaster relief assistance based on Afghanistan’s needs. Meanwhile, India has already delivered 1,000 family tents and 15 metric tons of food aid to Kunar, with further assistance planned, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
