Why your donation matters: Afghanistan hit by 6.0 magnitude earthquake
Last updated 8 Sept 2025
Late on 31 August 2025, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck near the city of Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan.
It has been reported that over 2,200 people have died, with thousands more injured or unaccounted for. Trained volunteers from the Afghan Red Crescent Society are assisting in search and rescue missions, and in distributing essentials like food and drinking water to those affected.
This is a rapidly changing situation; we will continue to update this page when we know more.
How to help people affected by the earthquake in Afghanistan
The situation in Afghanistan is desperate. The best and quickest way to help support people is to donate to our appeal. Donations will go towards helping people that need our support the most. Your donation will help us deliver food, water, and vital supplies, as well as continuing to help people rebuild their lives after the earthquakes.
Donate to the Afghanistan Crisis Appeal now.
An already desperate situation in Afghanistan
The earthquake is another emergency for people in Afghanistan, who have already suffered so much. Decades of conflict and repeated natural disasters had left two thirds of the population (31 million people) in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
• Only 42% of households have access to basic drinking water, particularly in rural areas.
• Only 50% of healthcare facilities in Afghanistan are fully functional, which has a widespread impact. Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.
• Congenital heart defects are a huge issue in Afghanistan, affecting an estimated 8-10 per 1,000 live births.
• In October 2023, a series of earthquakes hit western Afghanistan near Herat city, killing over 2,000 people and injuring more than 9,000.
The country is now facing a fifth year of drought-like conditions affecting more than 25 million people and a fourth year of crippling economic decline.
The Afghan Red Crescent Society has been on the ground supporting people for 30 years and continues to provide aid to people across the country. The people of Afghanistan desperately need your support, please donate to the Afghanistan Crisis Appeal.
Where your donation to Afghanistan will go
The Afghan Red Crescent Society has deployed local volunteers to support search and rescue operations, and to distribute emergency relief items to people affected by the earthquake. Afghan Red Crescent Society ambulances are also transporting the wounded to health centres.
The Afghan Red Crescent Society responded immediately to the 2023 earthquakes in the Herat province, helping with search and rescue efforts.
Through our ongoing work in the country prior to the recent earthquake, teams have:
• Established 47 healthcare clinics.
• Set up a 70-bed hospital in Kabul.
• Provided ongoing treatment for heart disease.
• Set up cash voucher assistance for those affected by drought and food insecurity.
Your support is desperately needed. Please donate today to the Afghanistan Crisis Appeal.
Over three decades of support for Afghanistan
The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has been helping the people of Afghanistan for over 30 years.
Our teams are on the ground in all 34 of the country's provinces – including isolated rural areas – providing essential relief and supporting hospitals and medical facilities.
We have 140 teams, including 70 mobile teams who cover the entire country, providing primary healthcare such as routine immunisations in areas other agencies are unable to reach.
We are also committed to providing longer-term support in Afghanistan, particularly to women and girls.
Our network of staff and 40,000 volunteers are working hard to support families through the multiple crises they’re facing right now.