OCHA Reports Over 221,000 Still Need Aid Months After Kunar Earthquake

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that more than 221,000 survivors continue to require urgent humanitarian assistance nearly eight months after a severe earthquake struck Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. The disaster claimed over 2,150 lives and caused extensive damage to residential and public infrastructure.

Recovery efforts have slowed due to funding constraints and the scale of reconstruction required. Approximately 7,600 families remain in temporary shelters, facing prolonged displacement as permanent housing projects have yet to materialize. Access to basic services, including education, clean water, and healthcare, remains inconsistent across the affected areas. Rural health facilities are reportedly operating under severe strain, struggling to accommodate the high volume of patients seeking treatment.

The situation in Kunar and Nangarhar mirrors wider humanitarian pressures across the country. Data from 2025 indicates that roughly 22.9 million Afghans required humanitarian support. In response, the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund distributed $73.5 million to assist 3.5 million people nationwide. However, aid coordinators emphasize that targeted funding for long-term recovery and infrastructure rebuilding in the earthquake zones remains insufficient, leaving vulnerable populations to navigate difficult living conditions with limited resources. Despite initial emergency responses and early financial allocations, sustained recovery programs have not kept pace with community needs.