UN Alerts on Afghanistan Quake, Haiti Violence, Pakistan Floods

The earthquake in Afghanistan caused widespread destruction, more than 1,400 fatalities, including many children, thousands injured, and severe damage to homes and infrastructure.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has released $10 million to address urgent needs for food, water, shelter, and other lifesaving aid following this week’s devastating earthquakes and aftershocks in Afghanistan.

“This crisis highlights the impact of shrinking resources on vital humanitarian work,” said UN relief chief Tom Fletcher on Friday. He stressed that additional funding is needed to support thousands of Afghans who have lost their livelihoods. The UN Emergency Fund is accepting donations to assist the affected population.

Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency UNHCR has sent emergency relief items worth $4.5 million to aid more than 5,000 households in Kunar and Jalalabad, said UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that over 11,600 pregnant women have been affected by the earthquake. Afghanistan already has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the Asia-Pacific region.

“For pregnant women, a natural disaster can turn an already challenging time into a life-threatening crisis,” said Kwabena Asante-Ntiamoah, UNFPA’s representative in Afghanistan. UNFPA continues to operate around twenty health clinics in the region to ensure safe deliveries and prevent further loss of life.

Gender-based violence has reached alarming levels in Haiti as criminal gangs tighten their grip on the country, with over 6,200 incidents reported between January and July. Nearly half of these cases involved rape, with armed groups responsible for 62% of incidents. One in seven survivors is a child under 18.

The lack of access to care reflects long-standing stigma, insecurity, weak referral systems, and insufficient health facilities. UN agencies and partners have assisted nearly 20,000 people, providing medical care, psychological support, legal aid, dignity kits, emergency shelter, and case management.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has added new treatments for cancer, diabetes, and obesity to its Model Lists of Essential Medicines. These updates guide procurement and coverage decisions in over 150 countries and now include 523 medicines for adults and 374 for children.

WHO emphasized that high costs remain a barrier and urged countries to prioritize patients most in need, promote generic competition, and integrate access into primary care.

Monsoon floods in northern Pakistan have affected 1.5 million people and killed nearly 900, triggering landslides, flash floods, and urban destruction. UN agencies are working with local authorities to assess needs and provide aid.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned that heavy rains could trigger further flooding in streams across Kashmir, Islamabad, Rabindi, northeast Punjab, and Swat, while glacial melt has worsened the situation.