How a Humanitarian Sector in Upheaval Responded to the 2025 Afghanistan Earthquake

Seismic Shifts: How a Humanitarian Sector in Upheaval Responded to the 2025 Afghanistan Earthquake

The earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on 31 August 2025 was a devastating shock for the mountain communities of Kunar and Nangarhar, and a test for the humanitarian sector operating under radically changed conditions. How would the system respond to a rapid-onset disaster in the context of severe funding cuts and a pariah host state?

This report provides an initial snapshot of the response, analysing the challenges and roles of different actors in a radically altered funding landscape, as well as the ethical and operational costs of the systematic exclusion of women.

Partners

Humanitarian Outcomes

Resources