ADRA responds to Afghanistan Earthquakes

A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan struck on 31 August 2025, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring at least 3,600 others. The disaster has directly affected an estimated 500,000 people across Nangarhar, Kunar, Nuristan, and Laghman provinces, including many women, children, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and recent returnees.

The earthquake has flattened entire communities in Kunar

On September 4 and 5 two strong aftershocks shook the same region, compounding devastation and terror. ADRA’s assessment team was present in the area but is safe.

“The devastation caused by these disasters is heartbreaking,” says Imad Madanat, Vice-President for Humanitarian Affairs in ADRA International. “Every life lost and every community affected serve as powerful reminders of the urgency to reach those in need with hope, relief, and support.”

The destruction is staggering. At least 6,700 houses have collapsed, forcing families to sleep outdoors. Survivors face freezing nights, limited aid, and heightened risks of disease outbreaks due to unsafe water, overcrowding, and poor sanitation.

ADRA teams in Kunar and Nangarhar report severe destruction and urgent needs for food, shelter materials, tents, winter clothing, household and hygiene supplies. Yet, a large-scale humanitarian response remains limited, hindered by access challenges, coordination gaps, and critical funding shortages.

Sofya Shumko, ADRA’s Euro-Asia Emergency Response Coordinator, explains: “It’s crisis upon crisis. Families already forced back from neighbouring countries are struggling to survive. Reduced funding has weakened their resilience as they now face hunger, economic collapse, and drought. We cannot change what happened, but we can make sure these families are not forgotten.”

ADRA is preparing to scale up relief operations as funds become available. In the coming days, ADRA Afghanistan will announce relief efforts targeting the most urgent needs.

Your donation today will help provide immediate life-saving provisions to those affected by the earthquake. Thank you for your generosity!