Afghanistan’s suffering has reached a new level of urgency after a devastating earthquake killed more than 800 people, with the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, warning that the country is already caught in a “multiplicity of crises.”
Grandi, while speaking to Sky News, described the situation as “very tragic,” pointing out that Afghans are facing multifold hardships even before the quake struck. “A big drought has already devastated communities, Iran has sent back almost 2 million people, and Pakistan threatens to do the same,” he said. “It’s extremely difficult to mobilise resources because of the Taliban. So it’s a perfect storm.”
The Taliban government has confirmed that the majority of deaths occurred in the remote Kunar province, where landslides buried homes and villagers scrambled to rescue loved ones with bare hands. Survivors now face freezing nights without shelter, food, or clean water.
Humanitarian agencies warn that relief efforts are being hampered by political restrictions and funding shortfalls. Since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, Afghanistan has seen a sharp drop in international aid, while sanctions have crippled its economy. Millions remain dependent on humanitarian assistance that is increasingly difficult to deliver.
Grandi’s remarks point out the fragile state of a nation where natural disasters collide with man-made crises including displacement, drought, economic collapse, and political isolation. With aid channels constricted and desperation mounting, the UN official’s warning is clear: Afghanistan is facing a storm it cannot weather alone.
