Kabul: An initial United Nations assessment of the recent deadly earthquake in Afghanistan found that 5,230 homes were destroyed and 672 damaged in 49 villages, but the UN hasn't been able to get to the vast majority of the remote villages. Shannon O'Hara, Head of Strategy and Coordination for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan, highlighted the challenges in reaching the affected areas due to the damaged roads in the country's rugged and mountainous east, where the 6.0 magnitude quake struck.

According to Emirates News Agency, a series of aftershocks ranging from 5.2 to 5.6 in magnitude added to the difficulties in assessing the extent of the damage. The earthquake, which struck on 31st August, resulted in the deaths of at least 2,200 people, and that number could rise as recovery efforts continue. The United Nations estimates that up to 500,000 people have been affected by the disaster, more than half of whom are children.

Efforts to reach and assist the affected villages are ongoing, but the challenging terrain and continued aftershocks have slowed progress. The focus remains on providing aid and support to the displaced and affected populations as quickly as possible.