The United Nations has warned that the death toll from the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, which has already claimed more than 900 lives, could rise exponentially as the scale of devastation becomes clearer.
UN humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan Indrika Ratwatte said the impact could extend to hundreds of thousands of people. Around midnight Sunday, the 6.0-magnitude quake struck remote mountainous areas near the Pakistan border, followed by at least five aftershocks.
According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter was located 27 kilometers from Jalalabad. Most homes in the affected region are mud-brick structures, making them highly vulnerable to collapse. Ratwatte noted that many victims were asleep when the quake hit, causing entire families to be buried under fallen roofs.
Access to affected areas has been severely hampered by landslides and damaged roads, with helicopters urgently needed to deliver aid, evacuate the injured, and deploy rescue teams.
Afghanistan, already facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises after decades of conflict, now struggles with limited resources. Ratwatte urged global solidarity, highlighting that the UN’s $2.8 billion appeal for Afghan aid this year is only 28 percent funded.
UN humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan Indrika Ratwatte said the impact could extend to hundreds of thousands of people. Around midnight Sunday, the 6.0-magnitude quake struck remote mountainous areas near the Pakistan border, followed by at least five aftershocks.
According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter was located 27 kilometers from Jalalabad. Most homes in the affected region are mud-brick structures, making them highly vulnerable to collapse. Ratwatte noted that many victims were asleep when the quake hit, causing entire families to be buried under fallen roofs.
Access to affected areas has been severely hampered by landslides and damaged roads, with helicopters urgently needed to deliver aid, evacuate the injured, and deploy rescue teams.
Afghanistan, already facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises after decades of conflict, now struggles with limited resources. Ratwatte urged global solidarity, highlighting that the UN’s $2.8 billion appeal for Afghan aid this year is only 28 percent funded.
