UN Warns Afghanistan Earthquake Survivors May Not Survive Winter Without Urgent Aid

The United Nations warned thousands of earthquake survivors in eastern Afghanistan face extreme winter risks, urging 139 million dollars in urgent aid to secure shelter, food, and healthcare.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and UNDP warned that thousands of earthquake-hit families in eastern Afghanistan risk not surviving the coming winter without urgent international support.

Special Representative Roza Otunbayeva urged the global community to respond quickly, stressing that the UN has appealed for 139 million dollars to meet immediate needs.

Otunbayeva also emphasized the importance of women’s role in delivering humanitarian aid, saying that restrictions imposed on female aid workers have made supporting victims extremely difficult. She added that women’s presence in this process is vital for reaching families, especially vulnerable women and children.

The 6.0-magnitude quake struck Nangarhar, Kunar, and Laghman provinces, killing hundreds, injuring thousands, and leaving tens of thousands homeless, according to local and aid officials.

UNDP emphasized “community-based recovery,” offering cash-for-work programs so survivors can earn income while participating in debris removal, housing reconstruction, and restoring infrastructure.

The UN stressed that earthquakes disproportionately affect the poorest, who live in fragile homes and lack resources for recovery. Support must go beyond relief, expanding into jobs, education, healthcare, and long-term resilience.

The humanitarian agencies underscored that alongside displaced Afghans, many recent returnees from Pakistan and Iran are among the victims—making targeted aid for women, returnees, and vulnerable groups essential.

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