WHO: Emergency Response Underway After Eastern Afghanistan Earthquake
Tawazon – The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that it has scaled up emergency response efforts following the recent 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan.
According to WHO, the quake has so far claimed the lives of around 2,200 people and injured more than 3,500. The death toll is expected to rise further as rescue operations continue and more areas are cleared. The statement was released today (September 4, 2025) on the organization’s official X page.
The agency said that immediately after the earthquake, it dispatched essential medical supplies and life-saving medicines to affected areas. Ambulances and mobile health teams were also deployed to provide urgent care for the injured.
WHO has called for $4 million in emergency funding to ensure the delivery of critical health services and to prevent the spread of diseases through improved access to clean water, sanitation, and health protection measures.
The organization stressed that the humanitarian needs of local communities remain immense and that urgent international support is required to accelerate rescue operations and contain potential outbreaks.
The 6.0-magnitude quake, which struck on August 31, destroyed hundreds of homes across Kunar, Nangarhar, and neighboring provinces. Rescue and relief efforts are still ongoing, but local residents continue to report severe shortages of emergency aid from the international community.
