UN News Today 01 September 2025 |

Aid effort gears up after Afghanistan quake ‘wipes out’ villages

After a magnitude six earthquake struck remote areas of eastern Afghanistan overnight reportedly killing at least 800 people and wiping out villages, UN chief António Guterres on Monday pledged to “spare no effort” in helping those affected.

Several UN agencies reported devastation across four eastern provinces of Afghanistan including Nangarhar and Kunar. As part of the response, the UN Humanitarian Air Service has scheduled additional flights connecting Kabul and Jalalabad for personnel and cargo to scale up the response.

With more, here’s Babar Baloch from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR:

“As the scale of this disaster far exceeds the current capacity of local authorities and communities. UNHCR, on its part, is mobilizing and rushing support to the affected areas. We are appealing to the donor community globally to support urgently required relief efforts. Afghans need our support and assistance now before it’s too late for many others.”

Witnesses reported that the earthquake happened at around midnight local time, heightening fears that many Afghans may still be trapped under the rubble of their homes. 

Gaza: No school for the third year running as war grinds on

To Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of children are out of school for the third year running, because of the continuing war.

In a renewed appeal for a ceasefire, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said that the Israeli military has destroyed or damaged most schools and education facilities in Gaza.

The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said that instead of learning, around 660,000 girls and boys in Gaza “will be sifting through the rubble, desperate, hungry, traumatized and mostly bereaved”.

He warned that the longer they stay out of school, traumatized, the higher the risk that this will fuel more hatred and violence.

Guterres condemns detention of more UN staff in Yemen

To Yemen, where UN chief António Guterres has strongly condemned the arbitrary detention of at least 11 staff members in Yemen by the de facto Houthi authorities.

The Secretary-General’s remarks come after the United Nations workers were held on Sunday.

He said that the Houthis entered the premises of the UN World Food Programme in the capital, Sana’a, and seized UN property.

They also attempted to enter other UN premises in the city, Mr. Guterres added.

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have been battling Yemeni Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, for control of the country for over a decade.

Since October 2023, they also have been targeting Israel as well as commercial ships in the Red Sea, in solidarity with the Palestinian cause in Gaza.

Mr. Guterres demanded the immediate release of the staff members – and of all other personnel from the UN and partner organizations and diplomatic missions, who have been arbitrarily detained, some since 2021.

Daniel Johnson, UN News.