In the wake of the devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on August 31, 2025, communities across the mountainous regions of Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces are struggling to rebuild amid staggering destruction and immense humanitarian need. According to the United Nations and multiple humanitarian agencies, the quake killed at least 2,200 people, forced more than 23,000 from their homes, and left a trail of devastation that has upended daily life for hundreds of thousands.
The earthquake struck late at night—always the worst time for such a disaster—collapsing low-rise homes made mostly of mud, wood, or rocks. Many families found themselves trapped as their dwellings became instant death traps. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) reports that the scale of the destruction is immense: more than 649,000 tonnes of debris now litter the region, equivalent to roughly 40,500 truckloads that must be cleared before true recovery can begin. Satellite data shows that nearly 246,000 buildings, including homes, schools, and clinics, lie within high-impact zones, and 462 kilometers of electric grid lines are at risk. The numbers are hard to fathom, but for those on the ground, the consequences are heartbreakingly real.
Emergency workers and aid groups, including the Taliban government and international agencies, have faced enormous challenges in reaching the most remote and rugged areas. The epicenter in Kunar province is particularly hard to access, with steep terrain and a lack of infrastructure complicating rescue and relief efforts. Helicopters and airdropped army commandos were deployed to evacuate survivors from isolated pockets, but in many cases, aid workers had no choice but to walk for hours—sometimes days—on foot to reach those in need. The UNDP’s Afghanistan representative, Stephen Rodriques, described the situation starkly: “Families are sleeping in the open, and access to basic services is severely disrupted. We must act quickly to restore dignity and safety.”
Indeed, the urgency is palpable. Devanand Ramiah, head of the UNDP’s crisis readiness, response and recovery team, made clear that the situation is a “race against time.” He stressed, “Debris removal and reconstruction operations must start safely and swiftly.” As of mid-September, about 40,500 truckloads of debris still needed to be cleared from affected areas in several provinces, a task made even more daunting by the region’s mountainous geography and limited road access.
The earthquake’s impact goes far beyond collapsed buildings. AI-based modeling, using satellite imagery and remote sensing, predicts that between 23,000 and 31,000 people have been internally displaced as a direct result of the quake. Vulnerable populations have been especially hard hit: approximately 633,000 women, 606,000 children, and 33,000 elderly were exposed to the disaster, according to the UNDP’s analysis. These figures highlight the sheer scale of the humanitarian crisis now facing Afghanistan—a country already grappling with a host of other challenges.
Access to basic services has been severely disrupted. Entire communities have been upended, with families forced to sleep out in the open as they await help. The main demands from survivors, according to Zia ur Rahman Speenghar, a Taliban government spokesman working on a committee to aid survivors, are straightforward but critical: the reconstruction of houses and restoration of water supplies. “Various countries and organizations have offered assistance in the construction of houses but that takes time. After the second round of assistance, work will begin on the third round, which is considering what kind of houses can be built here,” Speenghar explained. In the meantime, people are receiving whatever help can be mustered—cash, food, tents, beds, and other necessities.
Efforts are also underway to restore access to isolated regions. Three new roads are currently under construction in the Dewagal Valley, with additional roads planned to reach areas that were previously cut off from aid and supplies. These infrastructure projects are vital not only for immediate relief but also for the long-term recovery and resilience of the affected communities.
But the scale of the disaster means that the road to recovery will be long and fraught with obstacles. The UNDP is using advanced technology, such as AI-based modeling and satellite imagery, to identify the areas most in need of debris removal and structural assessments. This data-driven approach allows aid workers to prioritize their efforts and maximize the impact of limited resources. Still, the challenges are immense, and the clock is ticking. As Ramiah put it, “This is a race against time.”
Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN mission to Afghanistan, has described the situation as a “perfect storm” of crises. In a recent briefing to the UN Security Council, she highlighted that Afghanistan is not only facing the aftermath of this catastrophic earthquake but is also grappling with restrictions on personal freedoms, international aid cuts, a struggling economy, climate-related stressors, and significant population returns from neighboring countries. “The development of Afghanistan’s full potential is required for it to address these multiple crises,” Otunbayeva emphasized.
The international response has been swift but is hampered by Afghanistan’s complex political and logistical realities. Various countries and organizations have pledged support for house construction and other reconstruction efforts. However, as Speenghar pointed out, “that takes time.” The process is further complicated by the need to design housing that is both resilient to future disasters and suitable for the region’s unique geography and climate.
Meanwhile, the people of eastern Afghanistan continue to endure hardship on a scale that is hard to imagine. With homes destroyed, infrastructure shattered, and basic services disrupted, many families have little choice but to wait—sometimes in the open, exposed to the elements—for help to arrive. The sense of urgency is echoed by aid workers on the ground, who are racing not only against time but also against the onset of winter, which could make conditions even more perilous.
For now, the focus remains on clearing debris, restoring access, and providing immediate assistance to those most in need. But as the dust settles, the long-term work of rebuilding communities, restoring livelihoods, and addressing the broader crises facing Afghanistan will demand sustained attention and support from both the Afghan authorities and the international community.
The earthquake has laid bare Afghanistan’s vulnerabilities, but it has also galvanized a determined response from aid agencies, local authorities, and the international community. As the country faces this daunting recovery, the resilience and solidarity of its people—and those who have come to their aid—will be tested as never before.
