Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization (WHO), announced that UN agency first responders are already present to aid the injured. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) emphasized its support for the affected communities and emergency response as needs assessments started.
Reports suggest the earthquake hit near Mazar-i-Sharif around 1am local time, causing buildings to collapse. Social media footage from the city’s Shrine of Hazrat Ali, also known as the Blue Mosque, showed people navigating rubble. Although fatalities were reported in the mountainous province of Samangan, initial aerial assessments showed less damage than expected.
A UN flyover, assisted by Swiss authorities, found no evidence of mass displacement that might have occurred if the earthquake had been more severe.
“We went over populated areas in the earthquake-affected region. Thankfully, we saw very little widespread devastation…compared to Kunar a few weeks ago,” said Richard Trenchard, UN’s acting Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan.
This crisis follows a 6.0 magnitude earthquake on 31 August in Kunar province, eastern Afghanistan, which demolished houses and infrastructure, displacing hundreds of thousands and leaving half a million needing urgent medical help.
UNAMA/Nazifullah Salarzai reported damages to the Shrine of Hazrat Ali in Mazar-i-Sharif.
WHO highlighted that what began as an acute emergency in Kunar has become a displacement crisis, with prolonged stays in temporary settlements and health risks. The UN agency warned of a lack of safe drinking water, widespread open defecation, and poor access to women’s health services due to “absence of female staff and lack of privacy.” Maternal and newborn health needs remain critical, alongside immunization and mental health support amid deep aid funding cuts.
On the ground, UN agencies emphasize collaboration and local leadership for recovery efforts, such as pre-positioning supplies, mobilizing surveillance to prevent disease outbreaks, and preparing hospitals to resume operations.
Afghanistan is earthquake-prone, sitting on numerous tectonic faults. To enhance resilience, UN Habitat stated that training Afghan masons in local techniques is vital for saving lives. Stephanie Loose, UN Habitat’s Senior Human Settlements Officer, emphasized the importance of using culturally relevant materials and methods, warning against imposing unfamiliar construction techniques that can’t be widely adopted. She urged action to ensure cultural heritage is preserved in rebuilding efforts.
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