Nazar’s Story: Surviving Winter After the Afghanistan Earthquakes

Nazar never imagined he would lose his home in a matter of seconds.

When a series of powerful earthquakes struck eastern Afghanistan in August 2025, remote mountain villages were flattened and entire communities were devastated.

More than 2,000 people lost their lives, with the shallow depth of the quakes making them especially destructive. Thousands of homes, many built from mud bricks and timber, collapsed, leaving families without shelter. Nearly 23 million people – half the population – needed assistance.

ShelterBox responded with Islamic Relief Afghanistan, meeting people’s immediate needs with tents and essential items, including winter clothing, thermal blankets, kitchen sets and stoves – all vital for surviving the cold. People also received buckets, solar lights and fire blankets.

For 50-year-old Nazar, his wife Fatima, and their four children, the earthquakes changed everything. The family lives in Chawkay District, Kunar Province, where Nazar spent years building a home, raising livestock and providing for his family.

Sleeping under the open sky

Although Nazar’s family survived, the experience left a lasting impact. And in the days that followed, Nazar witnessed scenes he will never forget.

After the earthquake, I saw neighbours digging through rubble with their bare hands, searching for loved ones.

With their home destroyed and belongings lost, the family had nowhere to go. “Everything we had built was gone in moments,” Nazar said.

For several nights, the family slept outside under the open sky with no food or shelter.  “My children shivered through the night, and every gust of wind made them wake up in fear.”

Nazar tried to comfort them, but felt powerless. “The fear and uncertainty stayed with us day and night,” he said.

Facing a harsh winter

With his land damaged, Nazar had no income. His children were no longer able to attend school and spent most days inside their tent, afraid to play outside.

“Their laughter is gone, replaced by quiet fear, and it is hard for me to comfort them,” Nazar admitted.

As the family tried to come to terms with their loss, another challenge was approaching.

Winter in Afghanistan’s mountainous regions can be unforgiving. Temperatures regularly fall below freezing, and snow can make roads difficult to use.

For Nazar, the cold brought a new source of worry. “The biggest challenge is keeping my children safe and warm,” he said.

Without proper shelter, every night feels like a fight against the cold.

“Our tent means survival”

For families who have lost everything, shelter is about more than protection from the weather. A tent, for Nazar and his family, represents safety, dignity and stability during an uncertain time.

Our tent means survival. The tent shields us from wind and rain. It doesn’t solve all our problems, but it gives us dignity and a safe place to sleep.

For Nazar, the support he received is helping his family cope with the immediate challenges of life after the earthquake. But as he looks to the future, he is also worried about the changing climate and what it means for families like his.

A changing climate

The climate crisis is driving more extreme and unpredictable weather around the world. In Afghanistan, communities already facing conflict, displacement and disaster are often among the most vulnerable to its impacts.

Nazar says he has noticed changes in the weather during his lifetime: “I feel the winters are colder now and the summers hotter. Rain does not come when we expect it, and farming has become harder. Life is more uncertain than when I was young.”

I don’t know why this is happening, but it makes me worried about my children’s future.