The Secretary-General expressed solidarity with the Afghan people following a devastating earthquake. He extended condolences to victims’ families and wished a quick recovery for the injured, emphasizing the UN’s commitment to aid those impacted. UN agencies reported destruction in four eastern Afghan provinces, including Nangarhar and Kunar, where they are already aiding relief efforts.
Hundreds of houses reportedly collapsed in hillside communities. Salam Al-Jabani of UNICEF highlighted the devastation, explaining that homes fell on each other during the late-night quake, causing significant casualties as families were asleep.
The UN Humanitarian Air Service scheduled additional flights between Kabul and Jalalabad for personnel and supplies to boost response efforts. Witnesses reported the quake hit near midnight, raising concerns about trapped individuals. UNICEF noted many children were casualties, while poor communication hindered rescue operations. The epicenter was about eight kilometers deep, shaking Kabul and Islamabad.
UN assistance includes contributions from UNAMA, OCHA, WHO, and others. WHO teams are actively working in hospitals, providing essential medicines, and deploying health teams to save lives.
Globally, the UN operates in over 160 countries, focusing on climate action, food security, gender equality, and civilian safety. In Afghanistan since 1949, the UN’s efforts are led by the Resident Coordinator, Indrika Ratwatte, with a team including 20 agencies like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. UNHCR reported over 2,000 injuries in Kunar, fearing a high death toll in Jalalabad.
UN agencies are providing medical equipment, shelter, clean water, tents, and blankets. UNHCR’s Babar Baloch emphasized the disaster’s scale exceeds local capabilities and appealed for urgent global donor support.
Aid teams face challenging terrain to reach remote communities, OCHA noted. Heavy machinery is being used to clear roads, and critically injured individuals are airlifted to hospitals. Some communities are only reachable by foot, requiring up to three hours of travel from obstruction points.
This earthquake is among Afghanistan’s worst, following three deadly quakes in Herat in October 2023, which killed 1,480 people and injured 1,950 across 382 villages.
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