After the devastating earthquake that hit Afghanistan on September 3rd 2025, survivors are experiencing significant delays in receiving much-needed humanitarian aid, with thousands left trapped beneath rubble or injured or displaced across eastern and central regions of Afghanistan. International concerns have been voiced regarding slow delivery of assistance in response to this catastrophe; with survivors waiting patiently for relief.
A powerful earthquake struck early Monday morning, triggering widespread building collapse, road destruction, and major infrastructure damages in Afghanistan’s capital city Kabul and surrounding provinces, where entire neighborhoods have been leveled, leaving residents without shelter, food or clean water – many still trapped under debris; limited access makes rescue operations challenging and time-consuming.
Local authorities and rescue teams have been doing everything possible to assist, yet the scope of this disaster has far outstripped their ability. Roads remain impassable due to limited equipment availability. As of today, hundreds have died with thousands injured; hospital beds remain overwhelmed; reports indicate severe shortages in medical supplies, food, and water in some regions.
International aid organizations have pledged assistance, yet essential supplies have been limited due to logistical obstacles posed by damaged infrastructure and security threats. While the UN and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have coordinated relief efforts, its distribution has been slower than anticipated due to ongoing difficulties reaching remote locations.
OCHA spokesperson expressed frustration over delays in aid distribution. While supplies have been sent out, the situation in Afghanistan remains dire; “People in need are desperate for food, clean water and medical assistance. We are doing all we can to reach those most in need; however logistical challenges present an immense obstacle,” stated OCHA spokesperson.
Surviving areas have been left to their own devices, forcing many residents to seek shelter in makeshift containers and depend upon whatever resources are available to them. “We have no food, water or help” lamented one Kabul survivor. “We don’t know how long we can survive like this”.
The Afghan government has come under increasing pressure from international bodies and the Afghani public alike to act quickly on aid distribution and relief efforts, but due to ongoing aftershocks they are having difficulty keeping up.
As time passes, the survivors’ situation worsens as humanitarian agencies demand urgent international aid to bolster relief efforts and Afghanistan faces one of its most challenging recovery efforts ever seen in modern history. While waiting for aid arrives slowly, survivors still fearing the full scale of destruction has yet to be understood remain without aid arriving on time.