SUKI, Afghanistan, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- In the shadow of Afghanistan's rugged mountains, where the ground convulsed late Sunday, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake devastated eastern Kunar province, claiming more than 2,200 lives, injuring over 3,600, and leveling entire villages. Homes built of stone and mud collapsed within moments, burying families and futures beneath the rubble.
Amid the grief, acts of solidarity have offered glimmers of hope. The Overseas Chinese Association in Afghanistan (OCAA) quickly mobilized to deliver aid to the worst-hit families in Kunar. At a handover ceremony in Khas Kunar district -- attended by Afghanistan's ministers of public health and urban development and housing, together with the provincial governor -- OCAA representatives conveyed condolences and distributed emergency supplies.
The relief included 300 packages of daily essentials: 5 liters of cooking oil, 10 kg of rice, 3 kg of sugar, 1 kg of tea, and two dozen bottles of water. "Our fundraising campaign is ongoing, and we will continue to provide assistance as needed," the OCAA said.
For survivors, the aid carried both practical and symbolic meaning. Haji Rais Khan, the local official receiving the goods, expressed deep gratitude.
"I thank the Chinese association in Kabul for their condolences," he told Xinhua, adding that "China has always stood by the Afghan people."
China's Embassy in Afghanistan, together with the OCAA and other institutions, has already handed over donations to the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority on Tuesday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also pledged sustained humanitarian assistance, tailored to Afghanistan's evolving needs.
The aid was felt most urgently in Dewagal valley, Suki district, where the destruction was near total. Among the survivors was Dalawar Khan, who lost 12 family members beneath the ruins of his home. Standing in the rain, his voice trembled with despair: "My house and everything I owned are gone. We have no shelter left -- we are living out in the open. Everything is finished."
Omar, general director of labor and social affairs in Kunar, described the harsh reality on the ground. "We have set up a temporary camp here. In this rain, families are either in tents or exposed under the open sky," he said, thanking China for its timely presence.
On Thursday, China reinforced its commitment to Afghanistan's recovery. Li Ming, spokesperson for the China International Development Cooperation Agency, announced that Beijing would provide more emergency humanitarian aid, including tents, blankets, food and other urgently needed supplies for quake-affected areas.
Other countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, India, have also rushed in aid, donating tents, food and medical supplies. Britain pledged financial support in euros, the European Union contributed through the IFRC, UNICEF prioritized assistance for children, and groups such as CARE, Direct Relief and Human Appeal launched appeals to provide shelter, water and medical care.
The quake in Kunar follows the deadly 2022 tremor in eastern Paktika province, which claimed hundreds, and the 2023 disaster in western Herat, where over 1,000 lives were lost. Now, eastern provinces once again confront the immense challenge of rebuilding.
For survivors like Dalawar Khan, global solidarity offers a lifeline. But the urgent needs for shelter, resources, and reconstruction remain pressing reminders of both the fragility of life in quake-prone Afghanistan and the enduring value of shared humanity. ■
