Survivors of a powerful earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan in late August say they are still living in tents months after the disaster and fear they will not survive the coming winter unless urgent aid is delivered.
In Kunar Province, the hardest-hit area where over 2,200 have been killed, residents described life in makeshift shelters as increasingly unbearable, with little assistance reaching the most vulnerable. Some families say they have received only a single tent, despite housing multiple members.
“We are living in this tent,” said Wahidullah, a resident of Kunar. “This is our family. It’s a large family. Only one tent has been provided for us. We haven’t received a second or third to ease our situation. I don’t know how this is supposed to be a life.”
The earthquake, which struck on August 31, devastated many areas in of Kunar and some in Nangarhar province, leveling homes and displacing thousands. According to figures released by the Taliban administration, more than 2,200 people were killed and over 3,600 others injured.
Many survivors recounted the trauma of the disaster and the difficulties of recovery. They said they are still waiting for meaningful assistance, warning that children and the elderly are especially at risk as temperatures begin to drop.
“The cold season is approaching,” said Fateh Gul, another resident. “We need shelter. If we can be relocated, then help us relocate. If not, build us homes here. Our houses are gone. Floods have also come. It’s very hard for our children.”
Footage from the region shows families living amid the wreckage of what were once their homes. The area is filled with tents, where there were homes previously. The scenic mountain landscapes of Kunar now bear the scars of the disaster — a place where grief has settled alongside the ruins.
Local Taliban officials have acknowledged the scale of the destruction, but survivors say little has been done to restore housing or provide heating, food and other basic supplies.
With winter drawing closer, humanitarian agencies have warned that without immediate intervention, communities affected by the earthquake could face another wave of tragedy — this time from the cold.
