Afghanistan’s earthquake, 1 year on: rebuilding lives and protecting children

A year after a devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, many families are still rebuilding their homes and livelihoods while coping with loss and uncertainty. Afghanistan's children were already facing one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises before disaster struck. Continued access to essential supplies, health care, education and protection remains critical to help children recover, build resilience and look towards a brighter future.

A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on 31 August 2025 - 1 year ago and nearly 2,000 people lost their lives, more than half of them were children.

Those who survived were left in urgent need of:

Within days of the disaster, as part of its rapid response, and with support from the European Union, UNICEF urgently airlifted 130 metric tonnes of emergency supplies from its global supply hub in Copenhagen and its satellite hub in Dubai. 

Shelter and health supplies sent with EU support

The emergency shipment included medicines and medical equipment to provide life-saving care to the injured and critically ill, along with midwifery and obstetric kits for safe births, and hygiene supplies for women and girls. 

Tents were deployed and set up as child-friendly spaces, providing children with a safe place to cope with the trauma of the earthquake and the loss of their parents and siblings. Blankets and warm clothing were also delivered to help families withstand the elements as cold nights set in. 

These supplies formed the backbone of UNICEF's immediate response, helping save lives and laying the foundation for longer-term recovery.

The earthquake struck late at night while families were sleeping. In just seconds, homes were reduced to rubble, burying many under rubble for hours. Public infrastructure across entire communities was destroyed, leaving the injured nowhere to seek help. Families struggled to feed their children with the little food they could salvage. 

With each hour passing without treatment, people grew weaker, as the lack of clean water, food, medicines, and hygiene products increased the risk of disease and illness. 

Restoring basic services

Prepositioned and airlifted emergency supplies allowed UNICEF and partners on the ground to rapidly scale up efforts, restoring basic services and delivering critical care across the most affected areas – including health, nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene. 

The speed of this response helped prevent a secondary humanitarian crisis in the weeks following the earthquake.

In the child-friendly spaces, children who had lost their homes and loved ones could receive psychosocial support and find a safe place to gather, connect, and begin to regain a sense of normalcy. 

Recreation kits and early childhood development kits were also deployed, allowing children to take part in activities such as drawing, storytelling, singing, games, and informal learning.

Supporting education

500 temporary learning spaces were established, enabling nearly 15,000 children to access education. For many children – especially girls – this was their first time. 

Pencils, notebooks, backpacks, and study materials were distributed to support children in the classroom. 

A structured transition process now supports the integration of children into formal schools through assessments, coordination, and community engagement.

A year later, many children have returned to their daily routines. 

The emotional and practical impacts of the earthquake remain.