Eastern Afghanistan was shaken by two strong aftershocks within a 12-hour period, compounding the destruction already inflicted by recent earthquakes. At least 2,200 people have died in a series of quakes over this past week, and thousands more are injured, with many homes destroyed or badly damaged—particularly in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.
The tremors follow a catastrophic magnitude-6.0 quake that struck just before midnight last Sunday at a shallow depth, followed by a magnitude-5.5 tremor two days later, both of which triggered landslides and blocked access to remote communities. The newest shocks, one of which measured magnitude-5.4, have further escalated fears of additional casualties and collapsing buildings.
Rescue and relief efforts are gravely hindered by blocked roads, unstable terrain, harsh weather, and landslides. Many families, wary of further quakes, remain outdoors in tents or open areas rather than returning to homes constructed from masonry, stone, and timber.
Relief agencies warn of a deepening humanitarian crisis: overcrowded shelters, unsanitary conditions, and limited access to clean water and healthcare raise the risk of disease outbreaks. The World Health Organization has highlighted a shortfall in critical aid and medical supplies, urging an additional $4 million in funding. While a portion of funds has been released, much more is urgently needed to support health services, disease surveillance, and emergency relief.
The situation is further complicated by challenges such as deportations of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries and ongoing drought conditions, intensifying the strain on the country’s fragile infrastructure and humanitarian capacity.
