Afghanistan: Humanitarian Update, October 2025

Eastern region earthquake survivors struggle amid funding gaps

Months after a powerful earthquake struck Kunar and Nangarhar provinces on 31 August, killing over 2,150 people and causing widespread destruction of homes and critical infrastructure across dozens of districts, the humanitarian situation remains dire. An estimated 499,000 people were affected, including 221,000 in acute need of urgent assistance.

Humanitarian partners continue to support affected communities reaching 324,000 people overall — 223,000 of them in the most severely affected districts. Despite these efforts, the response faces significant challenges due to limited funding. Only a fraction of the required resources has been made available, leaving many families without adequate shelter and essential items as colder weather sets in. As of October, only US$38 million of the required $111.5 million has been received, restricting the scale and speed of life-saving support.

Shelter and winterization support, including insulated tents, remains one of the most critical needs in the response. Of the 186,000 people targeted for shelter and NFI assistance, only 52,000 have received support so far. Many continue to live in makeshift structures or damaged homes and with winter approaching, the urgency to scale up shelter supplies, heating materials and repair tools continues to grow.[1]

Food assistance has scaled up quickly, with ready-to-eat meals, hot food and dry rations provided to affected families. However, support for agriculture and livestock — critical for longer-term recovery — remains limited, leaving many at risk of deepening food insecurity. Health partners continue delivering healthcare services, though shortages of supplies and medicines, along with damaged facilities, hinder coverage, particularly in remote areas.

Nutrition services remain far below planned levels due to access and funding constraints, raising serious concerns about worsening malnutrition. Protection actors are providing psychosocial support, family tracing and child protection services, though gaps persist — especially for women and girls who face heightened risks. WASH partners are delivering safe water, sanitation and hygiene supplies, but repairs to damaged systems are progressing slowly due to insufficient resources.

Overall, while the humanitarian community has made steady progress in reaching affected families, the scale of needs far exceeds available resources. Underfunding remains the biggest barrier to preventing further deterioration. As winter sets in and communities continue to cope with loss and destruction, timely and predictable funding is crucial to sustain and expand the response, ensuring that earthquake-affected families receive the support they urgently need.

Rising Afghanistan – Pakistan tensions accelerate returns, increasing humanitarian pressures

Tens of thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan face growing uncertainty as Proof of Registration (PoR) cards expire and regional tensions trigger increased deportations and returns. In early October, cross-border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan resulted in the closure of major border crossings, including Torkham, Spin Boldak, Ghulam Khan, Dand Wa Patan, and Angoor Adda. These crossings remain closed to trade and civilian movement, with only limited openings for returning Afghan nationals.

Since early September, inflows from Pakistan have surged, with 106,810 movements recorded, half of them returnees. In total, more than 1.47 million Afghans have been repatriated in phases since September 2023. Currently, only Afghans holding valid Pakistani visas are permitted to remain in the country. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, all 43 refugee camps have been closed, with approximately 800,000 Afghans leaving and around 1.2 million remaining. In Sindh, authorities demolished the Afghan Camp in Sohrab Goth, Karachi, which once hosted around 30,000 refugees. Many of those affected had lived in Pakistan for decades, marking a profound disruption to their lives.

Medical services have also been heavily impacted. Many Afghans who rely on specialized treatment in Pakistan are now unable to travel, leaving patients with serious health conditions without viable alternatives. Humanitarian organizations warn that ongoing border restrictions, combined with high numbers of returnees, are likely to deepen humanitarian needs across Afghanistan. With critical supply lines disrupted and medical referrals halted, pressures on host communities and humanitarian systems are expected to intensify further.

Nationwide connectivity shutdown disrupts services and assistance across Afghanistan

A 48-hour nationwide telecommunications and internet shutdown from 29 September to 1 October brought Afghanistan to a halt, crippling essential services and disrupting humanitarian operations across the country. The sudden cutoff, announced without prior notice, stopped all fibre-optic and mobile networks, leaving millions of Afghans unable to make calls, send messages or access the internet.

The blackout occurred amid ongoing responses to multiple crises, including earthquake recovery in the east, large-scale returns from Iran and Pakistan and the continuing drought. Humanitarian partners reported widespread disruption, with field teams unable to use biometric systems, process cash assistance or maintain contact with coordination hubs. Operations at the Torkham and Spin Boldak border points were affected, leading to overcrowding and long delays in returnee registration and cash distribution. In the earthquake-affected provinces, the blackout further delayed the delivery of urgent relief.

Hospitals and clinics struggled to request medical supplies or dispatch ambulances, while banking, trade and customs operations were paralyzed. Women and girls faced heightened risks as communication cuts limited mobility and halted online education and livelihoods.

During a press briefing in Geneva on 30 September, one month after the eastern region earthquake, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, Indrika Ratwatte, described the situation as dire and warned that the shutdown would have severe consequences for the lives of ordinary Afghans. Humanitarian agencies urged the de facto authorities to restore nationwide access, emphasizing that the disruption further threatens Afghanistan’s fragile economy and deepens an already critical humanitarian crisis.

For many Afghans, the 48-hour blackout was not only a loss of connection — but a stark reminder of their vulnerability in a country where communication means access to safety, livelihoods and life-saving assistance.

[1] Afghanistan: Eastern Region Earthquake Response Overview (As of 16 November 2025) - Afghanistan | ReliefWeb