Jalalabad, Afghanistan — A powerful earthquake registering 6.0 on the Richter scale struck a remote mountainous region in eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan just after midnight local time. The quake, originating approximately 17 miles from Jalalabad and at a shallow depth of five miles, poses significant risks of widespread devastation, even for a moderate tremor.
Geographically, Afghanistan lies across a network of fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge, making the region vulnerable to seismic activity. Tragically, initial reports indicate that most fatalities have been concentrated in Kunar province, where many residents inhabit steep valleys and dwell in homes poorly constructed from mud bricks and timber.
The earthquake’s timing exacerbated the disaster, as many individuals were asleep when their roofs collapsed. “Families, including children, were fast asleep in homes that could not withstand such strong tremors,” said Samira Sayed Rahman, Advocacy Director at Save the Children Afghanistan.
Indrika Ratwatte, the United Nations coordinator for Afghanistan, noted that reaching remote areas heavily impacted by the quake has become increasingly complicated due to damaged road access. “Landslides and rockfalls have severely restricted access following the quake,” Ratwatte said during a press briefing in Kabul.
According to estimates from the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, around 12,000 individuals are believed to be directly affected. Officials warned that the death toll is likely to increase as rescue operations continue in the affected areas.
In light of the devastation, the Taliban government has appealed for international assistance, although the process is fraught with complications stemming from the lack of global recognition of their rule. Recent findings indicate that the Taliban exercises control over how aid organizations operate within Afghanistan, influencing the distribution of resources. The Taliban has denied accusations of misappropriating aid.
Despite the complications, some nations have stepped forward with offers of support. China and the United Kingdom are among those pledging assistance. The U.K. has committed approximately $1.3 million in humanitarian aid, intended for several organizations operating on the ground.
“These are life-and-death decisions, and we are racing against time to reach those in need,” Ratwatte urged, calling on the international community to extend their support. In stark contrast, the United States has yet to announce any aid, despite its historical role as a major donor to humanitarian efforts in the nation.
The ramifications of global funding cuts have had a devastating impact on health services within Afghanistan. Kate Carey, the deputy head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported that over 420 health facilities have been shut down or suspended, with significant consequences for emergency medical care in the wake of the earthquake.
This incident marks the third significant earthquake to strike Afghanistan since the U.S. military withdrawal. Previous quakes have resulted in staggering casualties, including around 1,000 fatalities in a 5.9-magnitude quake in 2022, followed by another series of quakes in western Afghanistan that claimed about 4,000 lives in 2023.
Afghanistan, one of the world’s most impoverished nations, has faced relentless challenges stemming from years of conflict and political instability. The Taliban’s resurgence has made it difficult for the country to gain international legitimacy amid ongoing humanitarian crises, including food insecurity driven by prolonged drought and the influx of over 2 million displaced individuals from neighboring Iran and Pakistan.
As the aftermath of this latest earthquake unfolds, Ratwatte emphasized the urgent need to not overlook the plight of the Afghan people. “They are contending with multiple crises, and community resilience is at its limit,” she said.