Seismic shifts: How a humanitarian sector in upheaval responded to the 2025 Afghanistan earthquake

The earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on 31 August 2025 was a devastating shock for the mountain communities of Kunar and Nangarhar, and a test for the humanitarian sector operating under radically changed conditions. How would the system respond to a rapid-onset disaster in the context of severe funding cuts and a pariah host state?

A research team examined the crisis response in the weeks following the disaster, conducting on-site interviews with affected people and local responders, as well as national and international humanitarian actors and donor representatives.

This report provides an initial snapshot of the response, analysing the challenges and roles of different actors in a radically altered funding landscape, as well as the ethical and operational costs of the systematic exclusion of women.