Kabul — Afghanistan has appealed to Russia for immediate humanitarian assistance after a devastating earthquake struck the eastern provinces, leaving hundreds dead and thousands injured. The Taliban-led authorities described the situation as catastrophic, with entire villages flattened and survivors trapped under the rubble.
The earthquake, measured at a magnitude of 6.0, hit the rugged Hindu Kush region late Sunday, triggering landslides and aftershocks that hampered rescue operations. Initial reports confirmed more than 600 deaths and upward of 1,500 injuries, though local officials warned the toll could rise sharply as relief workers reach remote mountain communities.
Residents described scenes of horror as homes built of mud and timber collapsed within seconds. Emergency crews rushed to the hardest-hit districts in Nangarhar and Kunar, deploying helicopters to transport the wounded, but their efforts have been slowed by damaged roads and unstable terrain. Entire families were reported buried beneath debris, with villages reduced to mounds of dust and twisted beams.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Disaster Management said Afghanistan lacks the resources to respond adequately to the disaster and urgently requires foreign aid, particularly heavy equipment, field hospitals, and food supplies. Officials highlighted Russia as a critical partner, noting Moscow’s capacity to deliver rapid assistance in large-scale emergencies.
The appeal comes at a time when Afghanistan remains isolated from most Western aid programs due to political sanctions. Regional powers, including Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan, have stepped in to fill the void, but the scale of the earthquake’s destruction has overwhelmed existing relief capacities.
Humanitarian agencies cautioned that the crisis could worsen as survivors face shortages of clean water, shelter, and medical supplies. With the coming days expected to bring heavy rains, relief workers fear disease outbreaks and additional landslides.
According to Al‑Jazeera, during the high‑level meeting in Moscow on October 20, 2021, ten regional powers, including Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Iran, and the five formerly Soviet Central Asian states, joined Afghan Taliban representatives in urging the United Nations to convene a donor conference aimed at preventing Afghanistan’s economic collapse and averting a humanitarian catastrophe.
These officials emphasized that isolating Afghanistan served no one’s interests, signaling a clear push for swift and coordinated international assistance to stem the growing crisis.
These regional actors framed their call not merely as political posturing but as an urgent humanitarian imperative, as the country grappled with collapsing institutions, mounting poverty, and widespread suffering.
They highlighted that a UN-led donor conference could mobilize critical resources, such as food aid, medical supplies, and economic stabilization packages, that Afghanistan’s new de facto authorities lacked the capacity to secure independently. This collective plea reflected a rare moment of regional consensus on the necessity of international solidarity with an embattled nation in crisis.
