As temperatures begin to drop, survivors of the August earthquake in eastern Afghanistan say they have yet to receive critical aid and continue to live in precarious conditions, raising fears of further suffering during the winter months.
The earthquake, which struck Kunar province on August 31, killed more than 2,000 people and left thousands more displaced. Many families remain in makeshift shelters or partially destroyed homes, facing dire economic circumstances and uncertain futures.
“There is no work here for the young people,” said Fida Mohammad, a survivor of the disaster. “We need job opportunities. Everyone is struggling.”
Ajmal, another survivor in Kunar, echoed those concerns. “I am unemployed and stay at home. We do some farming and livestock work, but there are no steady jobs and no way to earn money,” he said.
Despite repeated appeals, residents say that neither the Taliban authorities nor humanitarian organizations have provided the necessary support to rebuild homes or offer employment.
“Our houses have been destroyed, and we don’t have the means to rebuild them,” said Shafiullah, another earthquake victim. “We ask aid agencies to help us and create job opportunities. We are left with nothing but to pray.”
Calls for assistance are growing as humanitarian needs intensify. The lack of shelter, limited access to food and heating, and widespread unemployment have left many residents vulnerable to what could be a brutal winter in the mountainous region.
The earthquake struck amid an ongoing economic crisis that has left millions of Afghans in need of aid, with international assistance dwindling and local governance under strain. Humanitarian groups have warned that without urgent intervention, already devastated communities like those in Kunar could face even greater hardships in the coming weeks.
