A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, killing 2,205 people, injuring thousands, and burying several villages under rubble. The disaster has placed enormous pressure on already stretched local rescue teams, with access to some of the hardest-hit areas like Kunar hampered by rockfalls and landslides. Aid agencies on the ground have warned that resources are running thin and that international funding is urgently needed to support relief operations.
So far, only a handful of countries have stepped in to provide assistance. The European Union has pledged €1 million in humanitarian funding and 130 tonnes of in-kind support, while the United Kingdom has donated £1 million. Importantly, the aid is being directed to organizations working in the affected areas rather than to the Taliban government, which remains unrecognized by most Western nations. Many traditional donors, including the United States, which was once Afghanistan’s largest humanitarian supporter, have yet to contribute following deep funding cuts earlier this year.
Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, international funding to Afghanistan has sharply declined, with only 28% of the humanitarian funding target met this year. This has left the country globally isolated and in the grip of a severe economic crisis, making the earthquake’s impact even more devastating. Aid agencies stress that the disaster compounds existing hardships such as displacement, food insecurity, drought, and the return of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries.
The United Nations has echoed calls for greater global support, with spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasizing that the needs remain immense. Humanitarian groups continue to appeal for urgent funding, warning that without broader international contributions, the scale and speed of the response will remain severely limited.
