KABUL, 11 September 2025 – Nearly 1,200 children have been killed in the devastating earthquakes in eastern Afghanistan, which left thousands without homes and in need of urgent support, Save the Children said.
Children make up more than half of the about 2,100 confirmed deaths to date, according to new data from the UN [1]. More than 500 girls and 650 boys lost their lives in the earthquakes [1], the first of which struck at night on 31 August, flattening homes in seconds. These numbers are expected to continue to rise, as assessment teams reach more remote, mountainous villages in Kunar province, made even more inaccessible by rock falls.
The homes of about 38,000 people, around half of them children, were totally destroyed, based on data from assessments [2], with families now living in the open, either in makeshift shelters or in tents. When the houses collapsed, everything was buried under rubble and lost, including food, blankets and clothes. Samsoor*, 25, is the father of a one-year-old girl and lost everything he owned when his home in Kunar turned into ruins.
Samsoor* said:
“Our children have no clothes; everything is buried under the rubble. They have nothing. Even the clothes I’m wearing now were given to me by a friend from another city. I have absolutely nothing.
“We need proper shelter so that our children can live safely at home. The weather is getting colder with winter approaching. Our children need coats, shoes, and warm clothing. We also can’t afford to build homes – and it’s very hard for children to stay in tents when it’s cold.”
The massive earthquake in these rural areas also destroyed livelihoods for families who were dependent on livestock and agriculture – whole communities are now relying on aid and assistance. At least 2,600 families, including about 13,000 children, have moved into informal camps after leaving their ruined villages [1].
Save the Children works in the affected provinces so was among the first international organisations on the ground in Kunar where the majority of casualties occurred and is providing health care, water and sanitation services, household and hygiene kits, and multipurpose cash assistance and psychosocial support for children. We have so far supported more than 16,000 people including nearly 10,000 children.
Samira Sayed Rahman, Programmes and Advocacy Director, Save the Children in Afghanistan, said:
“This earthquake did not just destroy homes, it destroyed futures. Parents have lost children; children have lost siblings. For the survivors, there is unimaginable grief, compounded by losing everything they knew.
“The immediate priorities for children in earthquake areas remain food, shelter, and clean water - but as time ticks on, families who have lost their homes, livelihoods, and communities will need sustained support to recover and rebuild their lives. The challenges ahead are monumental.
“More than 200,000 children need immediate aid – but they also need as a longer-term commitment from the international community to ensure they not only survive the weeks ahead but also have a chance to rebuild their futures with dignity.”
Save the Children has been working in Afghanistan since 1976, including during periods of conflict and natural disasters. We have programmes in 9 provinces and work with partners in an additional 11 provinces. We deliver services spanning health, nutrition, education, child protection, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene and livelihoods.
References:
* Denotes name changed to protect identity
Calculation of number of children who are living in informal camps made using an average of 7 members per family, with each family having an average of 5 children.
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