The first of two shipments carrying a total of 130 tonnes of life-saving relief supplies, donated by the European Union from its humanitarian stockpiles, has arrived in Kabul to support children and families affected by the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on 31 August 2025. A second shipment is scheduled to arrive on 5 September.
The supplies, fully funded by the European Union’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), include tents, emergency shelter items, clothing, medical supplies, and water and sanitation equipment. These are being delivered on two EU-funded humanitarian charter flights to ensure rapid deployment to affected communities.
François Goemans, head of the European Union’s humanitarian aid office in Afghanistan, emphasized the severity of the situation and the EU’s immediate response, highlighting the provision of 130 tonnes of essential aid and an additional €1 million in emergency funding for partner organizations delivering relief on the ground.
Thanks to this support, UNICEF and its partners are able to scale up their emergency response, providing temporary shelter, safe water, medical assistance, and winter protection to families in Kunar, Nangarhar, and surrounding affected provinces.
Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, noted the urgent need for life-saving assistance, stressing that the EU’s support enables UNICEF to deliver critical supplies and ensure immediate care for affected communities.
Since the earthquake, UNICEF teams have been actively on the ground, coordinating with local partners and UN agencies to assess emerging needs, distribute aid, and protect the most vulnerable children in the disaster-affected areas.
