LocationsA conversation with UNDP Regional Area Manager Anatoly Balovnev on the devastation in eastern Afghanistan and how UNDP is helping communities rebuild with dignity and resilience
‘Earthquakes hit the poorest hardest—but this crisis is also an opportunity to build back better’
September 11, 2025
A series of earthquakes has devastated eastern Afghanistan, leaving some villages in complete ruin.
Photo: UNDP Afghanistan
The 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Eastern Afghanistan on 31 August left a trail of destruction across Nangarhar, Kunar, and Laghman provinces. Entire villages collapsed, thousands of lives were lost, and tens of thousands more were displaced. We spoke with Anatoly Balovnev, UNDP’s Regional Area Manager based in Jalalabad, who has been leading damage assessments and coordinating early recovery efforts in some of the hardest-hit areas.
What is your role and what does the UNDP regional office do in eastern Afghanistan?
I’m the Area Manager for UNDP in Eastern Afghanistan, based in Jalalabad. Our office covers four provinces: Nuristan, Nangarhar, Laghman, and Kunar. A big part of them are mountainous regions with limited infrastructure, and three of them were heavily affected by the recent earthquake. UNDP has a strong presence here, and we’ve been working on livelihoods, infrastructure and energy access long before the disaster struck. Now, we’re pivoting to emergency response and early recovery.
Earthquake survivors in eastern Afghanistan are in urgent need of shelter, food, clean water, energy access and psychosocial support.
Photo: UNDP Afghanistan
Can you describe what you have seen in the affected areas?
It’s hard to put into words. In Sutan village in Dara-e-Noor district, I saw heartbreaking scenes. Twelve people died there, eight of them children. Two of the victims were recent returnees from Pakistan. These were people who had already endured years of hardship. More than 82 people were injured, and over 400 homes were destroyed. Entire communities are now living outside in temporary tents, afraid to return to homes that might collapse again. The fear is real as aftershocks have continued to shake the region, and four days later, another strong tremor caused additional damage.
This is devastating for an area that was already struggling. How are people coping?
The destruction is both physical and emotional. Homes built from mud, stone and wood collapsed easily. Poor families suffered the most. Those who could afford concrete structures saw their homes survive. In one case, a 13-year-old boy was killed by a falling stone while sleeping. His siblings were seriously injured. Parents are grieving multiple losses. In Wadir village, we met survivors who had walked for hours to seek help. One woman, Besabra, lost all her livestock and saw her daughters injured. Another, Totya, lost her mother, uncle and brother-in-law. She and her son are now suffering from severe psychological trauma.
Many earthquake survivors have lost their homes. Others are sleeping outdoors for fear of aftershocks. Photos: UNDP Afghanistan
What are the immediate needs of these communities?
Shelter is the most urgent need, especially with winter approaching. People also need food, clean water, energy access and psychosocial support. Debris removal is critical, not just for reconstruction but to prevent public health risks. In many places, livestock remains buried under rubble, posing serious disease threats. We are also planning to reinforce slopes and build protection walls to prevent future landslides. We are working with our own team of engineers to identify where to build and with what materials.
Can you talk more about UNDP's approach in recovery work?
We’re focusing on community-driven recovery. That means working directly with affected communities to clear debris, rebuild homes and restore infrastructure. We’re providing cash-for-work opportunities so families can earn income while rebuilding. We’re also repairing water systems, roads and health facilities. Renewable energy is a priority. Many villages lost their only source of electricity when micro-hydropower stations were damaged. We are exploring solar energy solutions to restore basic lighting and communication.
What are the main challenges your team is facing in delivering aid?
Access is a major challenge. Roads were poor even before the earthquake, unpaved and vulnerable to landslides. Now, many are blocked. We’ve relied on support from de facto authorities for heavy machinery and helicopters to reach remote areas. In some cases, aid has to be delivered on foot. Despite these obstacles, the resilience and organization of local communities have been remarkable. I met young villagers who walked 13 hours across mountains to help neighbours in other districts.
Area manager Anatoly Balovnev visits Sutan, Nangarhar Province, one of the hardest hit areas. UNDP's support focuses on community-driven recovery, working directly with those affected o clear debris, rebuild homes and restore infrastructure.
Photo: UNDP Afghanistan
How is UNDP working with returnees and other vulnerable groups?
Many of the affected areas are home to returnees from Pakistan and Iran. These families were already living in poor conditions, and the earthquake has made things worse. We’re ensuring that returnees, women and other vulnerable groups are fully included in our recovery programmes. That includes support for small businesses, agricultural activities and renewable energy access. We’re also advocating for equal access to aid and medical services for women and girls. And our estimate is that up to 38,000 people will be displaced by the earthquake, adding additional pressure on strained resources and limited housing.
What lessons have you learned from this disaster?
One key lesson is that disasters disproportionately affect the poorest. Their homes are weaker, their resources limited, and their recovery harder. Building resilience means addressing these structural inequalities through job creation, education, healthcare and access to basic services. Another lesson is the importance of community solidarity. Despite unimaginable loss, people are helping each other, organizing locally and showing extraordinary strength. If Afghans are showing this level of solidarity, the international community should show the same level of commitment.
What message would you like to share with the international community?
The needs are urgent. Tens of thousands of families are living outside in makeshift shelters, fearful of aftershocks. With winter approaching, time is short. But this crisis is also an opportunity—to build back better, reduce vulnerabilities, and restore hope. We need not just humanitarian aid but long-term investments in resilience. Afghan communities have shown they are ready to rebuild. With the right support, they will do so with dignity and determination. And UNDP is here to support them.
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