EM25-052

In response to the devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on 31 August 2025, ADRA Afghanistan implemented an emergency food assistance project in Kunar Province, one of the areas closest to the epicenter. The earthquake compounded an already severe humanitarian situation marked by widespread food insecurity, repeated climate shocks, and reduced humanitarian funding. Following rapid needs assessments in Norgal and Chawkey districts, ADRA identified urgent gaps in food assistance for highly vulnerable households who had lost homes, livelihoods, and access to basic necessities as winter approached.

The response was made possible through a total project budget of USD 200,000, contributed by offices across the ADRA network. This collective effort demonstrated strong global solidarity and enabled ADRA Afghanistan to mobilize resources quickly in a highly constrained operating environment. The project aimed to stabilize food security for earthquake-affected families through the distribution of one month of in-kind food assistance aligned with Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC) standards.

ADRA targeted more than 1,100 households, prioritizing female-headed, elderly-headed, and child-headed households, as well as families with young children and pregnant or lactating women. A transparent, multi-vulnerability scoring system guided beneficiary selection, and close coordination with local authorities, community leaders, and humanitarian partners helped ensure accountability, avoid duplication, and reach underserved communities.

Implementation faced significant disruptions beyond ADRA’s control. Regional supply chains were affected by border-related constraints with Pakistan, landslides that blocked the Kabul–Jalalabad highway, and temporary government restrictions on heavy vehicle movement. These challenges delayed the delivery of food commodities to Kunar Province and postponed planned distributions at a time when humanitarian needs were growing.

Despite these obstacles, ADRA Afghanistan adapted its logistics and coordination strategies to ensure the project’s success. Through sustained engagement with authorities, the team secured special humanitarian transport permissions that allowed supplies to reach the Kunar warehouse. Distributions began promptly once access was restored, reaching more than 1,000 beneficiaries on the first day in Norgal District. The project was successfully completed, with post-distribution monitoring underway, underscoring ADRA’s ability to overcome external disruptions and deliver timely, life-saving assistance through coordinated global support.