Afghanistan: MSF’s response to the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan
Learn more about MSF's initial response in Nangarhar and Laghman provinces.
Just before midnight on Aug. 31, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. At least 1,400 people are reported to have been killed and more than 3,000 injured.
Entire villages have been reduced to rubble, with many people still trapped. Tragically, the death toll is expected to rise significantly.
The disaster hit the Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. The epicentre is in a remote and mountainous area that is difficult to access, making rescue efforts challenging. Local hospitals were quickly overwhelmed with the injured.
How is MSF responding?
- Our emergency team has already reached the provinces of Nangarhar and Laghman. They are assessing the full scale of medical and humanitarian needs.
- We are delivering vital emergency trauma care supplies to two of the main hospitals responding to the emergency. One hospital we assessed has already provided surgical care for more than 100 people and admitted more than 600 patients injured in the earthquake. The hospital was already full before the quake, and health workers were operating at full capacity with limited supplies.
- Emergency water and sanitation support will be critical. Water infrastructure has been damaged by the earthquake, making the risk of disease outbreaks significant.
- Our teams in Kabul and other provinces are safe and accounted for. We continue monitoring the situation and our thoughts are with the victims and their families in these difficult moments.
- We are coordinating with local authorities and international health organizations to assess how we may be able to provide medical support.
