Kabul: The United Nations has warned that thousands of families left homeless by recent earthquakes in eastern Afghanistan may not survive the winter without immediate international assistance.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN Development Program (UNDP) said on Monday that $139 million in emergency funding is urgently needed to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, leading Afghan news agency Khaama Press reported.
UNAMA chief Roza Otunbayeva urged the global community to act swiftly, stressing that restrictions on female aid workers have severely hampered relief efforts. Women’s participation is essential to reach families, particularly vulnerable women and children, she said.
A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Nangarhar, Kunar and Laghman provinces, killing hundreds, injuring thousands, and leaving tens of thousands without homes, according to officials. Many recent returnees from Pakistan and Iran were among those affected.
The UNDP highlighted the need for “community-based recovery,” including cash-for-work schemes that would allow survivors to earn income while helping with debris clearance, housing reconstruction, and infrastructure repairs.
Last week, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said at least 2,164 people had died in the disaster, including 516 women, 476 men, 509 girls and 663 boys. Food aid has reached more than 60,800 people, while shelter assistance, mainly tents and temporary housing, has been distributed, though resources remain limited.
Humanitarian agencies warned that the poorest, living in fragile homes, were disproportionately affected, and that the fast-approaching winter made urgent funding critical. The disaster, they said, highlights Afghanistan’s acute vulnerability to natural calamities and the need for sustained international support.