Apple News Today How an earthquake devastated Afghanistan
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Sep 2, 2025 A catastrophic earthquake has struck eastern Afghanistan, leading to a humanitarian crisis amid Taliban restrictions on aid. International donors face challenges in providing support. Meanwhile, the complex dynamics of Texas gerrymandering become a legal battleground for Trump. In geopolitics, a summit with Putin, Modi, and Xi raises eyebrows about their unity against Western influence. Additionally, significant changes in U.S. immigration policy shrink the labor force, alongside Rudy Giuliani's controversial recognition and a viral incident at the U.S. Open.
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Earthquake Devastates Remote Villages
- The earthquake in eastern Afghanistan flattened villages and killed hundreds, with casualties expected to rise as rescuers reach remote areas.
- Landslides and closed roads are severely limiting humanitarian access, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Aid Withdrawal Deepens Crisis
- Western donors have pulled back funding after the Taliban takeover and concerns about corruption, leaving Afghan public spending heavily dependent on foreign aid before 2021.
- The U.S. halted major aid contracts and expressed condolences but has not pledged relief funding after the quake.
Response Capacity Has Weakened
- Humanitarian groups say Afghanistan's ability to respond at scale has worsened since the Taliban takeover despite coordination mechanisms and actors on the ground.
- Agencies are scrambling but lack the resources needed for rapid, large-scale relief.