The earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on August 31 has reportedly claimed over 1,400 lives and injured more than 3,000 people. Rescue efforts in the affected areas are being hampered by severed roads and other obstacles. AAR Japan (Association for Aid and Relief, Japan), is assessing the damage through our local office in the capital Kabul and preparing to distribute emergency relief supplies.

In Kunar province, a mountainous area near the Pakistan border, many mud-brick houses have collapsed, burying people alive. Recovery efforts to dig out bodies continue. A local staff member at AAR’s Kabul office contacted acquaintances in the affected area, who reported, “While food shortages are the most critical issue, relief aid has begun arriving from other provinces. However, the electricity supply situation is particularly severe.”

When we told them that we would try to reach the affected area as soon as possible, they explained, “The roads leading to the disaster zone are cut off in many places and congested with emergency relief vehicles. It is difficult for cars to get through, but it would take about seven hours on foot.” As a result, rescue operations and emergency assistance remain extremely challenging.

In addition to ongoing political instability, Afghanistan has suffered repeated large-scale disasters in recent years. Each time, AAR has carried out humanitarian assistance despite numerous constraints. Our local staff are now making every possible effort to deliver support to those affected. We kindly ask for your cooperation in AAR’s emergency response to the Afghanistan earthquake.