Afghanistan Earthquake 2025

On August 31, 2025, a devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. More than 2,200 people have been confirmed dead, at least 3,640 have been injured, and over 6,750 homes have been destroyed. At least 500,000 people have been affected. The 2025 Afghanistan earthquake caused massive devastation. Hundreds of thousands of people in remote areas, already scarred by decades of conflict and displacement, have lost their homes and livelihoods. More help is desperately needed.

The August earthquake is one of the deadliest in Afghanistan in recent years, a country known for its susceptibility to seismic events. Major aftershocks have caused further death and destruction, complicating relief efforts in affected areas. These aftershocks have hit districts that were already affected, resulting in additional casualties, including among the aid and health workers deployed to support the humanitarian response.

Children are bearing the heaviest burden in the aftermath of the earthquake. At least 1,172 children have died, accounting for half of the overall death toll. Additionally, dozens of children have been separated from their families, and hundreds have been orphaned. More than 263,000 children have been impacted by the earthquake and now face heightened risks. This disaster comes on top of multiple conflicts and recurrent emergencies that have already robbed these children of their childhood.

The earthquake-impacted provinces are mountainous and extremely remote. Affected districts are extremely difficult to access due to steep terrain, limited road access, and fragile infrastructure. People urgently need shelter, food, medical supplies, clean water, and sanitation.  With winter fast approaching, it is critical that the international community step up support for the Afghan people.

Aid workers warn that the earthquake has worsened Afghanistan’s existing severe problems. The country has experienced prolonged conflict and frequent natural disasters, including flooding, drought, and earthquakes, in recent years. In October 2023, a series of powerful earthquakes in western Afghanistan killed more than 1,500 people. The country is already struggling to cope with a widespread drought and massive global cuts to humanitarian aid, which have resulted in the closure of essential services, such as health facilities and nutrition centers.

Since the beginning of this year, approximately 2.6 million Afghans, equivalent to six percent of the population, have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan. Some have never set foot in Afghanistan, while others have not been there for decades. Funding cuts have halted basic services for millions of people, grounded aircraft that serve as crucial lifelines for remote communities, and reduced the presence of aid agencies.

To sustain the earthquake response, far more resources are needed. The UN has launched an emergency response plan of nearly US$140 million so that aid organizations can support some 457,000 disaster survivors over the next four months. The plan focuses on providing life-saving assistance, including healthcare and emergency shelter, ahead of the winter season. The Red Cross and humanitarian non-governmental organizations have also launched urgent appeals. You can help meet the needs of those affected by donating today.

Emergency Appeals: Afghanistan Earthquake 2025

Emergency Appeals: Afghanistan Crisis

Further Donation Opportunities

In our directory of humanitarian aid organizations, you will find brief descriptions of well-known and influential international UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and Red Cross-affiliated organizations that respond to humanitarian crises worldwide and whose work you can support with a donation.

Last updated: 12/09/2025

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