Survivors of the deadly earthquake in Kunar say the relief provided so far is far from sufficient, leaving families without food, shelter, or basic medical care. Many are still waiting for the most elementary forms of aid, nearly a week after the disaster struck.
An elderly man from Wadir village in Ghaziabad district told The Guardian: “We urgently need tents and food. People have lost their homes and don’t even have utensils to cook with. We need more doctors.”
Some survivors say they are still waiting for the bodies of loved ones to be pulled from the rubble five days after the quake. A woman from Wadir added: “We are still sitting under the sun because there are no tents. If there were, at least I could keep my grandchildren in the shade.”
According to Taliban officials, Nurgal and Chawkay districts suffered the heaviest losses. In total, they report 2,205 people killed and 3,640 injured in the Kunar earthquake. Islamic Relief estimates that only 2 percent of homes in affected areas remain intact, while the rest are either destroyed or severely damaged.
Appealing for aid, Taliban officials have called on governments, international organizations, charities, businesses, and private citizens to donate to survivors.
But the desperation on the ground is stark. One woman who lost more than 30 relatives said: “I lost my husband, my sons, my grandchildren—everything. All I have left is this piece of cloth. I don’t even have money to buy a paracetamol.”
Aid groups warn that women in particular struggle to access assistance, especially in a conservative province like Kunar, where many feel unable to approach male aid workers.
In Nurgal, one of the worst-hit districts, only a single hospital remains functional, and it is overwhelmed. Most of the injured are being transferred to Jalalabad or Kabul for treatment, as local facilities cannot keep up with the growing needs.
