“Racing against time”: ActionAid scales up aid after 6.0-magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan
ActionAid responds to the Afghanistan earthquake and says “we are racing against time” to provide urgent humanitarian aid
ActionAid is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck Afghanistan on 31 August 2025, causing immense damage across Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces. The 6.0-magnitude earthquake has killed over 1,411 people, injured 3,124 and left a trail of destruction to key infrastructure.
Commenting on the situation, Jagat Patnaik, the Head of Asia Region at ActionAid International, said:
“The scale of this tragedy is heartbreaking. We are concerned about the welfare of the affected communities, particularly women and girls who face heightened vulnerabilities in emergencies. The most urgent needs on the ground are emergency healthcare support, food, clean water, search and rescue teams, and equipment.
He added that “ActionAid is working closely with local partners to assess the situation, ascertain the emergency support and funding required and coordinate a response.”
ActionAid has been working in Afghanistan since 2005 and is operational in Nangarhar and Laghman - two of the affected provinces and is coordinating with partners carrying out a rapid assessment.
Srikanta Misra, the Country Director of ActionAid Afghanistan, said:
“More than 12,000 people have been directly affected by the earthquake, and the needs are immense. Sadly, the affected areas were already grappling with several challenges, including food shortages, with one in five people facing hunger and nearly three million suffering from severe malnutrition.”
“With the public service system already stretched to its limits, we are racing against time to provide swift humanitarian assistance.”
He added that “ActionAid Afghanistan is working tirelessly to provide support to communities in areas where we operate and beyond. We have deployed teams to conduct assessments of the most pressing needs. We are working with partners to provide food and non-food items like tents, blankets and hygiene supplies.”
ActionAid calls upon the international community to heed the call for swift humanitarian aid for the affected communities.
ActionAid’s work in Afghanistan
In 2025, ActionAid Afghanistan's response work covers 17 provinces, 115 districts, and 3,306 villages, with 16 ongoing projects.
Srikanta Misra is in Kabul and is available for media engagements. Please contact the media office to arrange at media-enquiries@actionaid.org
About ActionAid
ActionAid is a global federation working for a world free from poverty and injustice. We want to see a just, fair and sustainable world, in which everybody enjoys the right to a life of dignity, and freedom from poverty and oppression. We work to achieve social justice and gender equality, and to eradicate poverty.