Amnesty International on Monday called for urgent humanitarian assistance to address the escalating crisis in the wake of a 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on August 31.
Entire villages were destroyed across Kunar, Nangarhar, and Lagham provinces, leaving thousands dead or injured and countless families without shelter. In a statement, Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for South Asia, expressed “deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in the devastating earthquake” and urged Taliban authorities to ensure “immediate and unhindered access to humanitarian organizations.”
Amnesty stressed that relief must be distributed without discrimination, prioritizing those most at risk, including women, children, older people, and people with disabilities. The organization also highlighted the broader humanitarian context, noting that nearly 22 million Afghans already require aid due to compounding crises, donor withdrawal, and mass deportations.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched an emergency appeal for 25 million Swiss francs to support both immediate and long-term recovery. Working with the Afghan Red Crescent Society, the IFRC outlined a plan to provide emergency shelter, multipurpose cash assistance, primary healthcare, safe water, and sanitation. Beyond immediate relief, the operation intends to deliver transitional shelters and permanent safe housing support projected through 2027.
The IFRC emphasized that this response builds on decades of experience working in fragile humanitarian contexts, noting that the Afghan population has endured successive shocks from natural disasters, armed conflict, and economic isolation.
Both organizations underscored that swift, coordinated international action is essential to prevent further suffering and to uphold the rights and dignity of survivors. Amnesty International reminded that the international community has a responsibility not to abandon Afghanistan’s people during one of their most vulnerable moments.
