By The South Asia Times

KUNAR, Afghanistan – A powerful earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on the night of August 31 has caused massive devastation, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring nearly 4,000 others, according to local authorities. The province of Kunar has been the worst hit, with entire villages reduced to rubble, thousands displaced, and survivors left vulnerable as winter approaches.

Officials confirmed that more than 8,000 houses have been destroyed in the disaster. In Mazar Darah, one of the hardest-hit valleys of Kunar, four villages were wiped out completely, leaving over 1,800 people dead. The scale of destruction has left survivors with little more than grief, fear, and the uncertainty of how they will survive the coming months.

Local Taliban official Najeebullah, speaking to The South Asia Times, described the dire situation in Mazar Darah. “The situation is still terrible in the area. It is located between two hills, and roads are completely blocked due to landslides. Aftershocks have made conditions worse, as rocks continue to fall, putting rescue and relief workers at constant risk. It is impossible to move supplies by road,” he said.

Given the dangerous terrain, authorities have decided to relocate survivors to tent villages. “So far, more than 3,000 people have been shifted to three temporary camps established for displaced families,” Najeebullah added.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The earthquake has struck Afghanistan at a time when the country is already facing a humanitarian and economic crisis. Millions of Afghans live below the poverty line, with 2.4 million people returning or being forced back into the country this year, many without safe shelter.

The UNHCR warned on Friday that the disaster has “destroyed entire communities,” leaving survivors exposed to the elements. “Winter is fast approaching—and without urgent support, lives are at risk,” the agency said in a statement. Relief groups are racing against time to provide tents, food, clean water, and medical supplies, but the needs far outweigh the resources available.

“Communities are still reeling from the effects of previous earthquakes and flooding. They urgently need safe shelter, protection, and relief,” UNHCR added.

Stories of Loss and Survival

Amid the statistics are countless personal tragedies. Chinar Gul, a resident of Kunar, lost 17 members of his family in the disaster. “It was doomsday and a horrible night when the tremor started. I was sleeping outside with my grandson while the rest of the family was inside. Only we two survived. Seventeen of my family members were buried under the rubble,” he recounted, his voice breaking.

Now, the 65-year-old has nothing left but his five-year-old grandson. “I have lost everything. I am too old to work, too weak to rebuild my house. I will spend the rest of my life in this tent,” he said, weeping.

Another survivor, Abdullah, a teenager, lost nearly his entire family. “My father, mother, and four brothers and sisters died. Only one of my brothers and two nephews survived, but they are injured. I was not at home that night, otherwise, I would have died too,” he said quietly.

“Our house is gone, my family is gone. I cannot describe the pain I feel now. Without parents and siblings, life has no meaning. But Allah will help us,” Abdullah added. He, like many others, fears the bitter cold of Afghanistan’s winter, which will set in by mid-October. “We will not survive the cold in these tents. We need winter-proof shelters, heaters, food, and medical help. Most of us are poor—we cannot rebuild our homes without international assistance.”

Urgent Call for Aid

The Taliban interim administration, together with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies, is working to provide immediate relief. Still, officials admit that the scale of the destruction is overwhelming. With roads blocked, aftershocks continuing, and thousands displaced, aid distribution has been extremely difficult.

Relief organizations have emphasized that time is running out. Without urgent international assistance, survivors will face freezing nights in inadequate shelters, increasing the risk of further deaths.

As Afghanistan struggles to recover from years of conflict, poverty, and isolation, the earthquake has added yet another layer of tragedy. The voices of survivors echo a common plea: the world must not look away.

“We need help to rebuild our homes, to survive this winter, and to give our children a chance to live,” said Abdullah, his eyes filled with tears.

For the people of Kunar, the August 31 earthquake was not just a natural disaster but a catastrophic blow to already fragile lives. Their survival now depends on how quickly the world responds.