Ireland pledges €500,000 in aid to victims of Afghan earthquake

Ireland has pledged €500,000 in humanitarian aid to support survivors of the powerful earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring thousands more.

The magnitude 6.0 quake, which hit near the border with Pakistan, flattened homes, triggered landslides and left communities cut off in remote mountain areas.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris, and the Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, confirmed today that Ireland will channel the funds through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The money will support the delivery of food, clean water, healthcare and other emergency assistance to survivors.

“This earthquake has caused utter devastation,” Mr Harris said. “The relief operation is going to be very challenging given the mountainous and remote make-up of the area. Landslides and road blockages mean it will take some time to reach people affected. There is an urgent need for the international community to assist efforts to get aid to people as quickly as possible. This funding from Ireland will provide basic but life-saving aid to people who have lost everything.”

Mr Richmond said the disaster had compounded already severe hardship for many Afghans. “The people affected by this earthquake were already facing incredible hardship. This latest disaster has left thousands of people mourning loved ones and facing a complete loss of income. Ireland has a proud record of responding to humanitarian need when disasters strike around the world. It is only right that we do what we can to help people in Afghanistan facing such an unimaginable crisis,” he said.

Ireland has provided €3 million to the UN-managed Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund this year, along with €1 million to the UNHCR Afghanistan Refugee Regional Response to support refugees and host communities in neighbouring states. The IFRC, which is coordinating relief on the ground, has already received close to €10 million in Irish funding in 2025 for responses to various crises.