A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Eastern Afghanistan late on 31 August 2025, with the epicentre in Kama district, Nangarhar Province. Over 1,400 casualties have been reported across four provinces — Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman, and Nuristan — with tremors felt as far as Kabul. The disaster has affected approximately 12,000 people directly, and a broader estimate suggests over 537,000 may be impacted. UNFPA has prioritized the health and protection needs of women and girls, deploying mobile health teams and ensuring that 20 static facilities — including Family Health Houses, Mother and Child Health Centres, and Psychosocial Counselling Centres — remain fully operational despite their proximity to the epicentre. Afghanistan’s de facto authorities have mobilized air and land assets to support the emergency response, while difficult terrain continues to hinder access to affected communities.
UNFPA is actively scaling up its emergency response. Four mobile health teams have been dispatched to provide lifesaving maternal and reproductive health services, supported by the distribution of Inter-Agency Reproductive Health Kits for up to 32,000 people. Psychosocial counsellors and dignity kits are also being provided, with standby teams available for trauma-informed care. As lead of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Area of Responsibility, UNFPA is coordinating the scale-up of survivor-centered GBV services. Menstrual hygiene kits have been distributed to adolescent girls, and a dedicated Community Engagement Officer is engaging directly with affected communities. UNFPA is also advancing PSEAH coordination and disability inclusion efforts in partnership with local actors. The humanitarian response continues to scale up, with additional flights and resources mobilized as the full extent of the impact becomes clearer.
