The quake, one of the deadliest since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, has stretched Afghanistan’s already fragile resources to the breaking point. The disaster which levelled entire villages and trapped countless people under rubble, has plunged the nation into yet another crisis. Aid agencies are sounding the alarm, pleading for global support as rescue teams battle treacherous conditions to reach survivors.

Only a handful of countries have pledged aid so far. The United Kingdom and Australia have each committed USD 1.3 million and USD 1 million, respectively, channelling funds through aid organisations to bypass the Taliban government. South Korea has also promised USD 1 million via the United Nations, while an additional USD 11 million is being funnelled through UN- and EU-managed funds. India and the UAE have stepped in with tents, food, rescue teams, and relief supplies.

Yet, the response remains woefully inadequate. Traditional donors, including the United States, which slashed its humanitarian funding to Afghanistan earlier this year, have been slow to act. “Afghans are exhausted by relentless crises,” said Thamindri De Silva of World Vision Afghanistan. “Without urgent international investment in long-term solutions like better infrastructure and healthcare, these disasters will keep devastating communities.”

Also Read: Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 610, Over 1,300 Injured

The situation in Kunar, the hardest-hit province, is dire. Landslides and rockfalls have blocked roads, forcing aid workers to trek for hours up steep terrain to deliver medicine and supplies. Families are sleeping in the open, enduring aftershocks and the constant threat of mines and unexploded ordnance scattered across 25 square kilometres of affected land. “This quake hit communities already grappling with displacement, hunger, and drought,” said Jacopo Caridi of the Norwegian Refugee Council. “The lack of funding is crippling our ability to respond quickly.”

The Taliban has appealed for help, despite its restrictions on NGOs, which have complicated aid efforts. With only 28% of this year’s humanitarian funding target met, local resources are stretched thin. The UN reports that food, shelter, medical supplies, water, and sanitation are top priorities, but blocked roads and ongoing aftershocks are hampering progress.

As Afghanistan reels from this tragedy, the world’s response hangs in the balance. Will nations step up to save lives, or will this crisis fade into the shadows of global indifference?

Also Read: Gaza Aid Armada Resumes Voyage After Tempest, Faces Israeli Barrier