Women and Girls in Kunar Quake Zone Face Severe Crisis, Warns UN

DID Press: UN warned women and girls who survived the deadly earthquake in Afghanistan’s Kunar province face grave challenges in rebuilding their lives and livelihoods, with limited access to humanitarian aid and cultural restrictions pushing them into a critical situation.

The 6.0-magnitude quake, which struck shortly after midnight on September 9, destroyed hillside homes across Kunar, killing at least 2,200 people. Satellite imagery shows more than 649,000 tons of rubble—equivalent to around 40,000 truckloads—still awaiting clearance. At least 23,000 people have been displaced.

Susan Ferguson, UN Special Representative on Women in Afghanistan, after visiting Chawkay district, said: “While the aftershocks have subsided, women are facing a long-term catastrophe. Many are living in temporary tents and, with the onset of winter, there is an urgent need for durable shelters.”

She noted that many women fled their villages in the middle of the night when the quake struck, walking for hours to reach safety. “They have lost loved ones, their homes, and their sources of income,” Ferguson added.

UN also highlighted cultural barriers and restrictions imposed by the Taliban authorities on aid delivery. Women and girls account for more than half of the dead and injured, while 60 percent of those still missing are female. Survivors are living in the open or in makeshift tents, exposed to health risks, violence, and landmines.

“In the instability and chaos following the earthquake, the daily struggles of women have multiplied,” Ferguson stressed.