UN Mobilizes Aid After Devastating Earthquake hits Afghanistan

“I stand in full solidarity with the people of afghanistan after the devastating earthquake that hit the country earlier today,” the Secretary-General said in a message online. “I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those injured. The @UN team in Afghanistan is mobilized and will spare no effort to assist those in need in the affected areas.”

Several UN agencies are reporting widespread devastation across four eastern provinces of Afghanistan, including Nangarhar and Kunar. Staff and humanitarian partners are already on the ground supporting relief efforts.

Hundreds of homes are believed to have collapsed in remote hillside communities. Many likely crumbled on top of each other, as homes are frequently enough built on terraces downhill.

“When an earthquake of this magnitude happens, homes basically tumble on top of each other,” salam Al-Jabani from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) told A news. “Because it was so late at night, families were at home sleeping, which is why we’re seeing such big losses.”

The UN Humanitarian Air Service has scheduled additional flights between Kabul and Jalalabad to transport personnel and cargo, helping to scale up the response.

Trapped Inside

Witnesses say the earthquake struck around midnight local time, raising fears that many Afghans are still trapped under rubble. UNICEF reported that many children have been killed. First responders note that poor phone and signal quality is hindering rescue and assessment efforts.

The earthquake’s epicenter was estimated to be only around eight kilometers (six miles) underground. Reports indicate buildings shook in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Islamabad, Pakistan.

Among those affected are communities already struggling with poverty and limited access to resources. The UN and its partners are working to provide emergency assistance, including shelter, food, and medical care. It’s a race against time to reach those in need.