On 31 August, a 6+ magnitude earthquake struck Nangarhar and Kunar provinces in the eastern region of Afghanistan, killing over 2,150 people and causing widespread destruction of homes along the mountainous slopes and valleys. In addition to loss of life and injury, infrastructure – including health facilities, schools, water networks and power and telecommunication lines – were impacted. The earthquake – which has been followed by several strong aftershocks – has left thousands of affected families in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. In total, an estimated 498,800 people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
This multi-sectoral Earthquake Response Plan for the Eastern Region targets approximately 457,000 people living in the high-intensity impact areas (MMI 5+), with a focus on those whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed. A total of US$139.6 million is required to rapidly deliver life-saving response activities over the next four months (September–December 2025).