KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – More than a month after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, thousands of survivors remain homeless, sleeping outdoors without proper shelter as the cold season approaches, Islamic Relief said on Tuesday.
The 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces on August 31. According to United Nations figures, nearly 2,000 people, most of them children, were killed, about 4,000 were injured, and more than 6,700 homes were destroyed. The quake and its subsequent aftershocks also damaged schools, health centers, and water facilities, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis in a country where over half the population relies on aid.
Islamic Relief said its latest assessment shows 90% of families in Kunar, the hardest-hit province, still lack proper shelter. “As temperatures fall, survivors are at extreme risk of hypothermia and illness if they can’t get shelter soon,” said Ibrahim Alhomadi, head of programs at Islamic Relief Afghanistan.
“We’ve given some families emergency tents, but this is not sustainable for winter – we need to get them into proper shelters as soon as possible,” Alhomadi added.
Survivors described harsh living conditions. Wahidullah Ehsas told Islamic Relief, “My family and I are staying outside under temporary shelters with limited food, water, and blankets. The nights are cold, aftershocks continue, and our children and the elderly are suffering the most.”
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) requested $139.6 million to aid nearly 500,000 people over four months. However, delivery of assistance has been slow, and funding remains critically short, leaving many families in urgent need of support.
Afghanistan is facing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Years of conflict, economic collapse, recurring natural disasters, and the return of refugees from neighboring countries have left millions dependent on aid. The UN estimates nearly 23 million people—over half the population—currently require assistance.
Humanitarian groups have called for urgent funding and faster aid delivery to prevent further loss of life, particularly among children, women, and the elderly.
