Afghanistan earthquake leaves women and children vulnerable to nutrition insecurity

Afghanistan is facing a crisis after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake, followed by a 5.5 magnitude aftershock, killed over 1,400 people. The Taliban is calling for aid from the international community, and the Nutrition Cluster and UN agencies have called for interventions to support mothers, caregivers, and their children. The Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) staff are also on the ground delivering emergency assistance.

NRC aims to provide families with kitchen supplies, blankets, shelter repair kits, hygiene and sanitation kits, cash assistance, and support to ensure access to safe drinking water. 

“The devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has struck a country already facing multiple humanitarian crises. The situation on the ground is critical. Entire communities are in urgent need of life-saving assistance,” says Jacopo Caridi, NRC’s Country Director in Afghanistan, following the earthquake

The natural disaster coincides with over 1.9 million Afghans returning from Iran, and 389,000 of them returning as of July 26. 

“The earthquake is not a stand-alone disaster. It hit communities that were already struggling with displacement, food insecurity, drought, and the return of hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries, says Caridi.

“Our teams in Kunar province report that families are sleeping in the open, enduring repeated aftershocks. Local resources are stretched to the breaking point, and a lack of funding is limiting the scale and speed of the humanitarian response.”

Amnesty International urges Taliban authorities to grant unimpeded access to humanitarian organizations and eliminate delays caused by administrative barriers (Image credit: UNHCR).UNICEF, also on the ground, says: “Our response focuses on addressing urgent needs across health, safe water, sanitation, nutrition, child protection, temporary shelter, and psychosocial support to ensure that children and families receive life-saving assistance as quickly as possible.”

Message to Taliban

Amnesty International urges the Taliban de facto authorities to provide unimpeded access to all humanitarian organizations and remove administrative barriers that are causing delays.

“More than 22 million people, almost half of the country’s population, already remain in need of humanitarian assistance in the country… Additionally, many donor countries, including the US, have cut or scaled back aid and assistance for the people of Afghanistan,” states the nonprofit.

“The Taliban de-facto authorities have also been responsible for the shrinking of operations of humanitarian and aid agencies in the country due to restrictive policies and a ban on Afghan women working for the UN as well as other NGOs in Afghanistan. This is part of the Taliban’s systematic attack on human rights in the country.”

Amnesty International urges the Taliban de facto authorities to meet the needs of affected communities without discrimination.

“Special measures must be put in place to ensure that the human rights of the most at-risk groups, who often face compounded challenges in crisis situations, including women, children, older persons, and people with disabilities, are guaranteed in relief and recovery efforts,” the organization stresses.

Protect the women

UN Women warns that Afghan women and girls will be the most affected by the earthquake, and it is on the ground to assess the impact. It points out that almost six out of ten who died were women, and they made up nearly two-thirds of the injured during Afghanistan’s last major earthquake in 2023.

Almost 60% of those who died in Afghanistan’s 2023 earthquake were women, who also accounted for nearly two-thirds of the injured.UN Women Afghanistan Special Representative Susan Ferguson stresses that women’s needs should be at the heart of the response and recovery, including supporting the vital work of women humanitarians across the affected areas, Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman.

“Communities in the valleys have lost almost everything — their families, homes, livestock, and vital water channels. In the aftermath, makeshift camps are sheltering 50 to 100 women and children per tent, with no access to proper wash facilities,” says Caridi. 

“Families with children are deeply traumatized, with some children having been trapped under rubble for several hours before being rescued. One of my colleagues met a 70-year-old resident in Norgal who lost 18 members of his family in the earthquake and is now alone, with nowhere to go.”

“Survivors of the earthquake urgently need shelter, food, clean water, and medical assistance. The earthquake has destroyed thousands of homes, and it is a race against time to be able to provide people with adequate shelter before winter.”

Breastfeeding and children’s support

Nutrition Cluster, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO call on all actors to ensure, promote, and support feeding and care of infants and young children, including their caregivers, such as pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women.

The UN and Nutrition Cluster advise that mothers should be supported to continue breastfeeding.They say that those infants not breastfed should receive powdered infant formula or ready-to-use infant formula supplies.

In their statement, they draw attention to recent reports that show some companies are promoting infant formula at zero points, or border points, where returnee response is still ongoing. “Such practices undermine efforts to protect and promote exclusive breastfeeding, which currently stands at 63.3% in Afghanistan.”

The statement discourages the use and acceptance of commercial breast milk substitutes unless necessary. If used, they must follow the International Code of Marketing and Breast Milk Substitutes.

“Optimal infant and young child feeding practices are critical for survival, growth, and development, particularly during the first two years of life. Breastfeeding protects against infection, provides ideal nutrition, is cost-effective, and safe—even during emergencies,” the statement reads.

“In contrast, reliance on infant formula in contexts with poor hygiene and limited access to clean water significantly increases the risk of malnutrition, illness, and mortality.” 

They advise that mothers should be supported to continue breastfeeding. If one of them becomes ill, the mother and child should stay together, and breastfeeding should continue because of passed-on antibodies that protect against diseases.

Children’s nutritional needs should be prioritized during Cholera outbreaks, according to the collective’s advice. Breast milk contains properties that could protect breastfeeding children from this disease. Additionally, zinc supplements are not necessary, as therapeutic foods contain adequate amounts.

“The earthquake should serve as a stark reminder: Afghanistan cannot be left to face one crisis after another alone. Donors must step up and remain engaged for the long haul — not only to fund life-saving relief, but also to ensure Afghans have a chance at a future beyond perpetual emergency,” says Caridi.

In June, UNICEF launched First Foods Afghanistan after finding that 90% of children in the nation suffer from food poverty. It outlines that it requires US$50 million through 2028 for the First Foods Afghanistan project.