Access Challenges Hinder Aid Delivery in Earthquake-Hit Kunar

Local sources in Kunar say that following the recent earthquake, many people in certain areas remain trapped, and the relief efforts have slowed due to damaged roads and the risk of landslides.

Residents of Mazar Dara in Nurgal district—one of the hardest-hit areas—report that aid has not yet reached some communities, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance has been disrupted by blocked and damaged roads.

One resident, Sayed Imran, said:

“In many villages, people are still buried under the rubble because these areas are located on mountain slopes, and the earthquake destroyed the roads. People urgently need food and drinking water.”

Another survivor from Ghaziabad, Khalid, who lost four family members, explained that no rescue or relief teams have reached their village:

“We recovered our dead with our own hands. Many are still trapped under the ruins. If food, clean water, and other aid are not provided soon, survivors will die of hunger.”

He criticized the rescue teams for only reaching nearby areas while neglecting remote villages.

Naeem Shah, another resident of Kunar, said that mountainous terrain and poor weather conditions have made it extremely difficult for relief teams to access remote areas.

According to him, the narrow mountain roads, fear of aftershocks, and obstacles to vehicle movement are among the biggest challenges in delivering aid.

He added:

“The roads are blocked, and rescue teams cannot reach villages where people are still trapped. We are asking that those who remain stranded be rescued and provided with humanitarian assistance.”

Reports indicate that women and children have been the most affected by the recent earthquake in Kunar, and some lost their lives because they could not be taken to health facilities in time.

According to health officials, more than 1,500 people have died and over 3,000 have been injured in Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, and Nuristan as a result of the earthquake.