Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 19, 2025 Humanitarian aid
Women and girls affected by the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan require additional support from the international community, UN Women announced on Friday.
“Although the aftershocks have mostly ended, without providing emergency assistance "Women in the affected areas will face a long-term crisis," Susan Ferguson, UN Women's special representative in Afghanistan, said at a briefing in Geneva.
The work of lifeguards
According to Ferguson, one of the rescuers supported by the agency described how she had to navigate mountain slopes, "dodging falling rocks every time there was an aftershock." Another woman who joined rescue teams with the organization's support noted that women in the affected areas had no other way to ask for help, as they were forbidden from speaking to men.
Rescuers had to traverse extremely difficult terrain, often on foot, to reach the most remote communities in Kunar province. At least 2,200 people died when homes built on steep slopes collapsed at midnight on August 31.
Large-scale losses
Following her meeting with women living in tents in central Kunar province, Ferguson noted that they will soon need more secure shelter as temperatures begin to drop.
These women left their village in the middle of the night when an earthquake occurred"After walking for hours to find temporary shelter," she said. "They told us they didn't know the fate of their loved ones, many of whom were still trapped under the rubble. They had lost their homes, their livelihoods, and their sources of income. As one woman put it, 'Now we have nothing.'"
The role of women in humanitarian efforts
Humanitarian response after disaster complicates ban by de facto authorities, which came into force on September 5, on the employment of Afghan female staff and contractors in UN offices in Kabul.
"Nevertheless, women and men involved in the humanitarian response can still work in earthquake-affected areas. And this is truly crucial, something that, incidentally, has been acknowledged as such by the de facto authorities themselves," explained a UN Women representative.
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Women and girls accounted for more than half of those killed and injured in the disaster. They also account for 60 percent of those missing. Many survivors continue to live in tents or outdoors.
Aid priorities
The priority for humanitarian agencies remains medical assistance to the victims, including finding a sufficient number of women who will be able to provide services to local residentsIn some areas, cultural norms meant women were reluctant to be touched by men, and men, in turn, were reluctant to touch women during rescue efforts, Ferguson said.
The destruction of basic infrastructure has increased the risk of violence, with women and girls forced to walk longer distances to find toilets or water, putting them at risk of attacks and landmines.
"In their everyday lives, in this cultural context, these women already face a difficult daily struggle to survive while trying to support their families," Ferguson emphasized. "Now, in the chaos of the earthquake, it will be even more difficult for them to feed their children and find a safe place to live."
According to satellite data analyzed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), more than 649,000 tons of debris still need to be removed—40,500 trucks would be needed to remove this volume of waste. An estimated 23,000 people have been displaced from their homes.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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