More than 1,100 people were killed and about 1,500 were injured when a powerful earthquake struck southern Afghanistan on Wednesday. Roughly a day after the disaster, international humanitarian aid began to reach the country, edging closer to the hardest hit regions as responders coordinated relief efforts across difficult terrain.
Even though neighboring Pakistan did not report fatalities on its own soil, the tremor’s reach extended across borders and disrupted lives there as well. A small convoy of relief trucks carrying food and medical supplies moved toward Afghanistan, but the most severely affected areas are remote, mountainous, and slow to access. Landslides and damaged roads have impeded travel, complicating rescue operations and the delivery of relief. Taliban authorities have struggled to mobilize field teams and resources to reach communities in the most isolated pockets.
Officials voiced concern about the communication blackout in some districts. As crews attempted to establish contact and assess needs, they stressed the urgency of additional help. A military spokesman for the Taliban command in the region indicated that his forces were prioritizing search, rescue, and medical assistance, but acknowledged how much ground remained to cover in the hardest hit zones.
The affected region is among the poorest and most fragmented, with scattered homes built from adobe and fired-brick by residents themselves. The fragility of these structures, together with the risk of landslides, has driven a high casualty toll and heightened the fear of further collapses as aftershocks continue.
“An unprecedented crisis”
Officials and aid agencies describe the situation as an unprecedented humanitarian crisis for Afghanistan, layered atop decades of conflict, persistent drought, and a struggling economy. The earthquake is expected to worsen conditions for millions who already face food insecurity, displacement, and a fragile health system. Experts from the World Food Program noted that relief efforts must be swift and sustained to prevent a sharper deterioration in living standards and health indicators among the most vulnerable communities.
In still-emerging assessments, humanitarian leaders emphasized the need for durable assistance that addresses shelter, nutrition, clean water, medical care, and psychosocial support. Initial pledges point to a growing international response, with several countries and organizations committing resources to support relief operations and long-term recovery efforts in the affected regions.
South Korea and Japan have signaled readiness to deliver urgent aid, while Turkey has offered support and rescue expertise should the Taliban government formally request assistance. The United Nations and its partners continue to coordinate a multi-layered response, balancing rapid life-saving measures with longer-term programs aimed at stabilizing communities and rebuilding essential infrastructure across the southern provinces.