Despite millions of dollars pledged in humanitarian aid following the deadly earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, residents of Kunar province say critical assistance has yet to reach many survivors.
Local residents told Amu TV on Friday that, five days after the disaster, victims remain trapped under rubble, and urgent needs—including drinking water, food, temporary shelter, and medical care—have not been adequately addressed.
“We lost everything,” said Zahedullah, a resident of Kunar. “We are homeless and desperate. We need tents, water, and food.” Another survivor, Nasibullah, added, “Essential aid has not arrived. We’ve lost our way of life.”
Footage from the region shows collapsed homes and grieving families, with women and children sleeping in the open air.
The Taliban have reported that more than 2,200 people have been killed and over 3,650 injured in the earthquake, most of them in Kunar province. Officials say these figures are expected to rise.
Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) described the situation in Kunar—particularly for women and children—as “deeply concerning.” The agency said that 65% of residential homes in the affected areas have been completely destroyed.
“Women and children are the majority of those killed in the eastern Afghanistan earthquake,” OCHA said in a statement. “In addition to the human toll, homes have been demolished and urgent humanitarian assistance is needed.”
Despite international pledges of aid, including from donor governments and relief agencies, many survivors say Taliban authorities have failed to distribute the assistance effectively. Local volunteers, lacking proper equipment, are still digging through rubble using shovels and hand tools.
As of Friday, no senior Taliban leaders had visited the affected region, and Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has yet to issue a public condolence message to the victims’ families.
