The aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on August 31, 2025, has left a nation reeling, communities shattered, and the international community scrambling to respond. The disaster, which registered an initial magnitude of 6.0 and was followed by powerful aftershocks, has killed more than 2,200 people and injured thousands, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society. Entire villages, especially in Kunar Province’s picturesque Dewagal Valley, have been reduced to rubble, wiping out homes, generations, and livelihoods that once thrived in the region’s verdant landscape and formidable slopes, as reported by the Associated Press.
Rescue operations remain underway, but progress is painfully slow. Rugged terrain and blocked roads have hampered the efforts of emergency crews, leaving many survivors still trapped beneath the debris of collapsed homes. The Afghan Red Crescent Society warned that the casualty figures are based on preliminary information and could rise significantly as more areas become accessible. By midweek, Taliban authorities confirmed that the official death toll had surpassed 1,450, with Kunar Province suffering the heaviest losses and more than 5,000 homes damaged, according to The Media Line.
Amid this backdrop of devastation, the international response has been swift but faces immense challenges. China, in particular, has emerged as a leading provider of humanitarian relief. On September 4, the China International Development Cooperation Agency announced that Beijing would provide Afghanistan with 50 million yuan—roughly $7 million—in emergency humanitarian aid at Kabul’s request. The supplies, which include tents, blankets, and food, are being delivered in batches by Chinese Air Force Y-20 heavy-lift aircraft, with the first shipment touching down in Kabul on September 7, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
“The disasters have resulted in 2,205 fatalities and 3,640 injuries as of September 4, with widespread damage to infrastructure and homes,” the Afghan Red Crescent Society stated, underscoring the urgency of the aid effort. Li Ming, spokesman for the China International Development Cooperation Agency, emphasized that China would provide the tents, blankets, and food urgently needed in the earthquake-affected areas. More shipments are planned in the coming days, aiming to swiftly reach those most in need.
Earlier in the week, China became one of the first countries to donate relief funds to Afghanistan. On September 2, Bao Xuhui, charge d’affaires of the Chinese embassy in Afghanistan, handed over earthquake relief donations from the embassy, Chinese institutions, and the overseas Chinese community. “The strong earthquake that struck Kunar and other Afghan provinces has caused significant casualties and property damage, which has deeply touched the hearts of the Chinese people,” Bao said at the handover event, as reported by China Daily. He added that the embassy, Chinese institutions, and the Overseas Chinese Association in Afghanistan had quickly raised the funds and relief supplies in hopes of helping the people in the affected areas overcome their difficulties.
The gesture has not gone unnoticed by Afghan authorities. Muhammad Alam Alamyar, general-director of administration of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, expressed his gratitude at the event, stating, “Afghanistan cherishes the friendship of the Chinese people toward the Afghan people and will properly utilize the donations and relief supplies, dedicating them entirely to disaster relief and reconstruction.”
China’s approach to humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan has been characterized by the absence of political conditions—a feature that regional analysts have highlighted as crucial in times of crisis. “In recent years, China has emerged as one of the largest and most reliable sources of humanitarian aid for countries facing disasters, with a timely donation of 50 million yuan being a prime example,” Shakeel Ahmad Ramay of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research and Development in Pakistan told China Daily. He further noted, “But the most prominent feature of Chinese aid is that China provides humanitarian assistance without conditionalities.”
Pakistan, Afghanistan’s neighbor and longtime host of Afghan refugees, has also contributed to the relief effort, dispatching 105 metric tons of humanitarian aid on September 3. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar confirmed the shipment, which included food, medicine, and other essentials. However, Pakistan’s role in the crisis is complicated by its recent crackdown on Afghan refugees. Since 2023, Islamabad has forced more than 1.2 million Afghans to leave the country, including over 443,000 in 2025 alone, according to the United Nations.
The timing of the earthquake has further intensified hardships for Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan. After the August 31 deadline for Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration cards expired, thousands crossed back into Afghanistan—many into regions devastated by the quake. Lala Mujahid, head of the council representing Afghan traders in Pakistan, told The Media Line, “The government’s decision had left many families in shock. We were given very little time to leave, which made it almost impossible to gather our belongings, close our businesses, and prepare our families for departure.” He added, “Now the earthquake has only deepened the hardships, while the visa process for Afghan citizens remains extremely complicated.”
For many, the return to Afghanistan has meant facing the dual threats of displacement and disaster. “Returning with women and children is an extraordinarily hard task,” Mujahid explained, “as they would be left without adequate shelter, healthcare, and security.” Large areas in the quake zone remain cut off due to blocked roads and disrupted communication, leaving families without access to food, shelter, or medical assistance.
The United Nations has taken notice of the worsening crisis. On September 3, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi publicly appealed to Pakistan to suspend its repatriation of undocumented foreigners in light of the earthquake’s devastation. Grandi wrote, “In view of the circumstances, I appeal to the government of Pakistan to suspend the implementation of its plan to repatriate undocumented foreigners.” He emphasized that “aid from donors, including Pakistan, is vital and greatly welcomed.”
Humanitarian organizations have warned that resources for food, medicine, and shelter are already stretched thin, fueling fears of a worsening crisis as more refugees return to a country struggling to recover from disaster. The combined pressures of displacement and the earthquake are exacerbating what many aid agencies describe as one of the region’s most protracted humanitarian emergencies.
As the world watches, the people of Afghanistan face an uncertain future. The immediate focus remains on rescue and relief—getting tents, blankets, and food to those in need and reopening roads to isolated communities. Yet the scale of the destruction, the ongoing displacement, and the limited resources available mean that recovery will be a long and arduous journey. For now, the resilience and solidarity of the Afghan people, combined with international support, offer a glimmer of hope amid the rubble.
