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Afghanistan faces worsening humanitarian crisis after deadly quake and drought

Roads, communication networks, and health centers were severely damaged, leaving many areas cut off from assistance.

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Afghanistan is confronting one of its most severe humanitarian emergencies in recent years, as a deadly earthquake and worsening drought devastate communities already struggling with poverty, displacement, and dwindling international aid.

A powerful earthquake struck eastern Kunar Province near the Pakistan border on August 31, 2025, killing nearly 2,000 people and injuring more than 3,600. The 6.0-magnitude tremor, which hit just before midnight, flattened or damaged more than 8,500 homes and affected an estimated 60,000 people across mountain districts.

Roads, communication networks, and health centers were severely damaged, leaving many areas cut off from assistance.

In the immediate aftermath, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) and humanitarian partners launched emergency operations, including search-and-rescue efforts, road clearance, and medical evacuations. Relief agencies quickly deployed food, water, and temporary shelter to affected families, while 25 inter-agency teams carried out rapid needs assessments across Kunar and neighboring provinces.

To sustain the emergency response, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF) jointly released $10 million on September 1, allowing aid groups to expand life-saving support. Despite continued aftershocks and blocked access routes, coordination improved once UNHAS helicopters resumed flights in mid-September.

Recognizing the scale of the crisis, Indrika Ratwatte, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, launched a $139.6 million emergency response plan on September 9 to assist nearly half a million people through the end of 2025.

“We are in a race against time to deliver winter supplies before the cold sets in,” Ratwatte said, calling for renewed international solidarity with the Afghan people.

Multiple crises converging

The earthquake struck as Afghanistan faces multiple, overlapping emergencies. A severe drought, now considered one of the worst in 50 years, has destroyed rain-fed crops and parched farmlands across the north and central regions. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), up to 50% of irrigated land has been damaged, while rain-fed wheat has almost completely failed.

In Faryab Province, farmers say they have never witnessed such devastation. “In my lifetime, I have never seen such a drought. We have lost all hope,” said Kohistani, a 75-year-old farmer in Kohistan District, where wells have dried and families are leaving their villages.

Despite the hardship, local communities are finding ways to adapt. Small-scale irrigation systems, cold storage for crops, and vocational training in trades such as carpentry and mechanics are being introduced to build climate resilience and provide alternative incomes. As one Afghan proverb reminds: “Drop by drop, a river becomes.”

The crisis unfolds at a time when global humanitarian funding is at its lowest in years. Nearly half of Afghanistan’s population still depends on aid for survival, while more than 1.4 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan face uncertainty following the expiration of registration cards and pressure to return home.

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Kabul’s Omid Sabz Township declared state-owned, occupants told to seek compensation from seller

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Afghanistan’s Ministry of Justice says that more than 1,500 jeribs of land known as Omid Sabz Township (Haji Nabi Township) in Kabul has been legally determined to be state-owned, and that current occupants should seek compensation from the party that sold them the land.

Barakatullah Rasouli, spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, said the Special Court for State Land Grabbing Cases ruled that the land is officially registered and surveyed in the state’s name across five cadastral plots and has never been transferred to any individual or legal entity.

The court also ordered that the property be handed over to the Commission for the Prevention of Land Grabbing and the Restitution of Grabbed Land for implementation of the ruling.

The Ministry of Justice stressed that the commission is legally responsible for enforcing the Special Court’s rulings in cases involving state-owned land.

 

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Turkmenistan reviews TAPI pipeline progress at government energy meeting

TAPI’s gas supply will come from the Galkynysh field, one of the world’s largest natural gas deposits, with estimated reserves exceeding 27 trillion cubic metres.

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Turkmenistan has reviewed progress on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and reaffirmed its commitment to expanding hydrocarbon production during a government meeting of the country’s oil and gas sector.

According to a statement issued by state-owned Turkmennebit on Monday, the meeting assessed the performance of Turkmenistan’s oil and gas industry during the first seven months of 2026. Senior officials from Turkmennebit, Turkmengaz, Turkmengeology, TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd. and other energy enterprises presented reports on ongoing projects and sector developments.

The statement said particular attention was given to construction of the Serhetabat-Herat section of the TAPI pipeline, with officials emphasizing that work is being carried out in line with international standards.

Participants also discussed priorities for the sector’s future growth, including expanding geological exploration, increasing production drilling to identify new hydrocarbon reserves, boosting oil and natural gas output, and improving the quality of extracted resources.

The 1,800-kilometre TAPI pipeline is designed to transport up to 33 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually from Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh gas field to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The project is regarded by Ashgabat as a key route for diversifying its gas exports while strengthening regional energy cooperation and economic integration.

TAPI’s gas supply will come from the Galkynysh field, one of the world’s largest natural gas deposits, with estimated reserves exceeding 27 trillion cubic metres. In April 2026, Turkmengaz and China’s CNPC launched the fourth phase of the field’s development, a project expected to add up to 10 billion cubic metres of commercial gas production annually through new production facilities and additional wells.

The pipeline has also attracted renewed international attention. In June, the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School said TAPI is re-emerging as an important regional energy project, highlighting its potential to connect Turkmenistan’s vast gas resources with growing demand in South Asia.

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Mullah Baradar visits flood-hit Nuristan, pledges continued support for victims

A delegation of private sector representatives also accompanied Baradar during the visit and provided cash assistance to families affected by the floods.

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Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on Monday visited the eastern province of Nuristan to express solidarity with families affected by the recent deadly floods and reaffirm the Islamic Emirate’s commitment to supporting those impacted.

According to a statement from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Baradar offered condolences to the families of those killed in the floods, praying for the victims to be granted paradise and wishing a swift recovery to those injured.

He said that immediately after the disaster, officials from the relevant government institutions were dispatched to the affected areas and used all available resources to carry out rescue operations and assist flood victims.

Baradar assured affected families that the Islamic Emirate would continue to provide assistance using all available means, emphasizing that government officials consider it their responsibility to respond to the needs of the people in a timely manner.

A delegation of private sector representatives also accompanied Baradar during the visit and provided cash assistance to families affected by the floods.

According to the statement, local religious scholars, tribal elders and flood-affected residents welcomed the delegation’s visit and expressed appreciation for the government’s support during a difficult time. They also shared their concerns and requests with the deputy prime minister.

Baradar pledged that the relevant authorities would take the necessary steps to address the issues raised by local residents.

The visit comes as Afghan authorities continue relief and recovery efforts in Nuristan following recent floods that caused fatalities, injuries and widespread damage to homes and infrastructure.

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