In the remote mountain villages of Afghanistan’s Kunar Province, two powerful earthquakes struck within days of each other, silencing all daily life and reducing entire communities to piles of stone and mud. For many families, nothing remains, as they mourn lost loved ones and begin to make plans for survival in the country’s most remote areas.
The earthquakes, centered near the Nurgal District, have left behind devastation few words can capture: more than 2,200 lives lost, 3,600 injured and tens of thousands displaced. In some districts, over 90% of homes have been destroyed, representing whole villages flattened in moments. Access to shelter, clean water and safe spaces remains scarce, leaving families exposed as they face the coming winter.
All Hands & Hearts (AH&H)’s priority is to meet families where they are traveling to remote, hard-to-access places.
Working with a trusted local partner, we’ve launched a targeted relief effort to reach some of the most vulnerable communities. Our response focuses on the essentials that help families sustain themselves with dignity: solar panels with batteries to provide light and electricity, blankets for warmth and protection, and gas cookers with provisions so households can safely prepare food.
THE EARLY DAYS OF THE RESPONSE
Phase I
Over multiple days, our local team moved quickly to source the essential items families need most. Because supplies weren’t available in one place, they crisscrossed different towns and markets to gather everything from blankets to cooking sets. At the same time, transport was secured, with a truck arranged for bulk items and a smaller vehicle to support the team’s mobility. Step by step, the foundation was laid to get aid moving toward remote mountain villages.
Phase II
Once supplies were gathered, the team began the long journey from Kabul to the district center, using rented trucks and vehicles to move the relief items safely into the region. On arrival, a jirga (a traditional community council meeting) was held, bringing together local leaders to ensure aid would be distributed fairly and reach the families most in need. From there, donkeys and horses were hired to carry the supplies across steep, rugged terrain, making it possible to deliver relief to mountain villages otherwise cut off from outside help.
Make a Difference
Your support makes this work possible. Please consider donating to help us continue providing critical relief to disaster-impacted communities. Together, we can make a difference.
Thank you for standing with communities in their greatest time of need.
