In the aftermath of a devastating magnitude 6 earthquake and its relentless aftershocks, eastern Afghanistan has been left grappling with a humanitarian crisis. From Jalalabad, Shannon O’Hara, head of strategy for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan, described scenes of heartbreaking loss. Families in the affected provinces, particularly Nangarhar and Kunar, have seen their homes reduced to rubble, their farms decimated, and their livelihoods vanish in a matter of minutes.

Entire Villages Lost in Minutes

The quake has touched nearly 40,000 lives across at least 49 villages, with over 5,000 homes now destroyed. What makes this crisis particularly dire is the remoteness of the impacted areas. These are regions that were difficult to access even before the earthquake struck. Now, with landslides blocking narrow mountain roads, humanitarian workers face extraordinary physical and logistical challenges to reach those in need.

Ms. O’Hara recounted how a 100-kilometre journey took her team over six hours. In many areas, vehicles can only go so far. Emergency responders are often forced to complete their mission on foot, hauling supplies up treacherous slopes to reach stranded families.

Women and Girls Bear the Brunt

Amid this devastation, it is women, girls, and individuals with disabilities who are facing the most acute struggles. Ms. O’Hara emphasized how, in recent years, Afghan women and girls have been increasingly excluded from public life and basic services. Natural disasters only magnify these inequalities. Experience from past crises in Afghanistan shows that when tragedy strikes, it is women and girls who suffer the most severe consequences.

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The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that over 11,600 pregnant women are among those affected, in a country that already suffers from one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the region. Ensuring female representation in medical teams and aid distribution is critical. OCHA is also working to deliver nutrition support, psychosocial care, and other essential services tailored to the needs of women and children.

Disease Looms as Clean Water Runs Dry

As families sleep in tents or under open skies, they face an additional, looming danger: disease. Without access to clean water or adequate sanitation, and with widespread open defecation reported across 92 percent of affected communities, the risk of a cholera outbreak is growing rapidly. Cholera is endemic to this part of Afghanistan, and any delay in preventive action could prove catastrophic.

While UN agencies have already distributed meals and basic hygiene kits, the scale of the need vastly outweighs the current response. The situation on the ground is rapidly deteriorating, and immediate intervention is essential to prevent further tragedy.

Winter Threatens to Cut Off Relief

The arrival of winter poses yet another threat. Heavy rains could flood internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, triggering more landslides. As snow begins to fall, mountain passes may soon be blocked entirely, severing access to the hardest-hit communities. Ms. O’Hara warned that the window for action is narrowing quickly. Without a rapid scale-up in relief efforts, entire villages could be left isolated and vulnerable to disease, hunger, and the freezing cold.

To meet the urgent needs, OCHA has already released $10 million for emergency aid and is finalizing a comprehensive response plan. However, the scope of the disaster demands far more support. As Ms. O’Hara noted, "If we do not act now, these communities may not survive the coming winter."

International Aid Begins to Arrive

In a positive step forward, a shipment of over 35 metric tonnes of life-saving medical supplies landed in Kabul this week. Mobilized by the World Health Organization through its logistics hub in Dubai, the new consignment includes trauma kits, emergency surgery supplies, basic healthcare packages, and medication for noncommunicable diseases. These will be dispatched to both fixed health facilities and mobile units operating in the most severely affected regions.

This latest delivery brings the total volume of emergency health supplies delivered by WHO to nearly 80 metric tonnes since the earthquake struck. These resources are expected to bolster Afghanistan’s capacity to treat injuries, manage chronic health conditions, and provide immediate care to those in remote villages.

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A Race Against Time

The earthquake has left communities not only grieving but also struggling with the fundamental elements of survival. Shelter, clean water, food, and medical care are in dangerously short supply. With the threat of additional aftershocks, disease outbreaks, and winter weather on the horizon, aid agencies are racing against time to stabilize the situation.

The resilience of the Afghan people has been tested repeatedly in recent years. Yet without substantial and immediate international support, the aftermath of this disaster could evolve into a prolonged humanitarian catastrophe. The world must act swiftly to ensure that this tragedy does not deepen in the weeks ahead.

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