A magnitude 6.0 earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province at the end of August has left a trail of devastation, killing at least 2,200 people and destroying entire villages.
The United Nations reports that 362 of the 411 affected villages remain unreachable due to their remote locations and challenging terrain.
With over 5,230 homes destroyed and 672 damaged, an estimated half a million people, including 250,000 children, are impacted.
Humanitarian efforts are underway, but logistical barriers and the looming winter season threaten to exacerbate the crisis.
The earthquake hit some of Afghanistan’s most isolated rural areas, where access was already limited before the disaster.
Shannon O’Hara, head of strategy for the UN’s humanitarian office (OCHA) in Afghanistan, described the situation: “Even before the earthquake, these villages were difficult to reach. Now, it takes extraordinary effort to get there.”
Humanitarian teams face long drives and hours of travel on foot, navigating narrow mountain roads blocked by landslides.
A 100-kilometer journey to Jalalabad, near the epicenter, took O’Hara’s team over six hours, highlighting the immense obstacles to delivering aid.
The destruction has left families without homes, farms, or livelihoods, with many living in tents or under open skies.
The UN warns of a potential cholera outbreak, as 92% of affected communities lack proper sanitation.
Women and children, particularly 11,600 pregnant women, face heightened risks in a region with high maternal mortality rates.
OCHA has provided ready-to-eat meals to 43,000 victims and distributed tents and sanitation kits, while the World Health Organization delivered 35 metric tonnes of medical supplies to Kabul.
However, O’Hara cautioned, “If we don’t act now, these communities may not survive the winter,” as snow and heavy rains could cut off access and worsen conditions.