One year after the devastating earthquake that killed over 2,100 people in Kunar in eastern Afghanistan, many survivors are still homeless and struggling with trauma and loss of livelihoods, Islamic Relief says.
Islamic Relief launched an emergency response in the immediate aftermath of the 6.0 magnitude earthquake, which struck on 31 August 2025, and has so far helped more than 28,000 people with healthcare, durable shelter and livelihoods support. However, earthquakes continue to impact communities far beyond the initial emergency.
One year later, Islamic Relief aid workers say many people are still without proper shelter, with families living in tents which already need replacing due to wear from the harsh sunlight and freezing winter. More than 3,600 people were injured, with many of them still recovering from life-changing injuries. The earthquake also killed many livestock, leaving families without income or food supply.
Shogofa Miakhil is a psychosocial support worker with Islamic Relief in Kunar. She says:
“The impact remains deeply felt in the communities I serve, for whom it was a very difficult and painful experience. Many people lost their homes, livestock and sources of livelihood. Families had to live in temporary shelters, and many people experienced significant emotional and psychological distress.
“The psychological toll has been severe, and we see widespread stress, anxiety, fear, grief, depression and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly among those who lost family or their key assets.
“The emergency may have happened one year ago, but the needs of many affected families have not ended. Families urgently need safe, durable and weather-resistant shelters that can protect them from rain, storms, extreme sunlight and harsh winters. The loss of livestock including cows, sheep and goats that provided both income and food has made economic recovery extremely difficult for many households.”
Sharifullha Kandal Khan, an earthquake survivor, said:
“In the earthquake, I lost my house as well as my livestock, which had been the main source of income for my family. I used to earn income from selling goat and cow milk, which helped me meet many of our basic needs, and my children also benefited from the milk and other dairy products. After losing my livestock, my daily wage income has not been enough to provide sufficient food for my family. My main hope is to find a stable job so I can provide for the basic needs of my family. I also hope to rebuild at least one room of our house and create safer living conditions for my children after everything we lost.”
An Islamic Relief emergency assessment just after the earthquake found 98% of buildings in the worst hit villages were damaged or destroyed. Among the estimated half a million people affected by the earthquake were many returnees from Pakistan who had recently arrived in Afghanistan with little money or assets.
Islamic Relief is calling for sustained support that helps earthquake survivors rebuild livelihoods, mental health and durable shelter, as well as immediate emergency aid.
Notes to editors
In the initial aftermath of the earthquake, Islamic Relief provided emergency shelter materials and deployed an emergency health team to treat injuries and provide nutritional support and trauma counselling. Islamic Relief established health clinics in Badenzoy (Sawakai District) and Nangosi (Khas Kunar District) and to date, the two clinics have provided outpatient and maternal healthcare services to around 4,000 households. More than 2,000 people have benefited from construction and repairs of damaged homes, and Islamic Relief also provided cash to help families who lost their livelihoods to buy food and shelter on local markets.
