ADRA Responds to Afghanistan Earthquake, Pakistan and India Floods

Humanitarian agency rushes to assist those affected by natural disasters in South Asia.

September 9, 2025 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | ADRA International and Adventist Review

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is rushing to assist those affected by natural disasters in South Asia, including a recent earthquake in Afghanistan and floods in Pakistan and India. Here’s what ADRA is doing to help survivors and those who have been displaced.

Afghanistan Earthquake: A Half Million People in Urgent Need

A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan struck on August 31, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring at least 3,600 others. The disaster has directly affected an estimated 500,000 people across Nangarhar, Kunar, Nuristan, and Laghman provinces, including many women, children, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and recent returnees.

On September 4 and 5 two strong aftershocks shook the same region, compounding devastation and terror. ADRA’s assessment team was present in the area but is safe.

The destruction is staggering. At least 6,700 houses have collapsed, forcing families to sleep outdoors. Survivors face freezing nights, limited aid, and heightened risks of disease outbreaks because of unsafe water, overcrowding, and poor sanitation.

“The devastation caused by these disasters is heartbreaking,” said Imad Madanat, vice president for Humanitarian Affairs at ADRA International. “Every life lost and every community affected serve as powerful reminders of the urgency to reach those in need with hope, relief, and support.”

ADRA teams in Kunar and Nangarhar report severe destruction and urgent needs for food, shelter materials, tents, winter clothing, and household and hygiene supplies. Yet a large-scale humanitarian response remains limited, hindered by access challenges, coordination gaps, and critical funding shortages.

Sofya Shumko, ADRA’s Euro-Asia emergency response coordinator, explained: “It’s crisis upon crisis. Families already forced back from neighboring countries are struggling to survive. Reduced funding has weakened their resilience as they now face hunger, economic collapse, and drought. We cannot change what happened, but we can make sure these families are not forgotten.”

ADRA is preparing to scale up relief operations as funds become available. Photos and videos from the field are being shared to mobilize support. In the coming days ADRA Afghanistan will announce relief efforts targeting the most urgent needs.

Pakistan Floods: Millions Displaced, Homes Swept Away

Severe monsoon flooding in Pakistan’s Punjab province has killed at least 892 people and directly affected 3.9 million residents. More than 9,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, with 6,000-plus livestock lost, and 234 bridges and 410 miles (660 kilometers) of roads washed away.

ADRA Pakistan’s rapid-needs assessment identified emergency shelters, food, mosquito nets, medical support, and hygiene kits as the most urgent priorities. ADRA’s initial response is targeting Sialkot, one of the hardest-hit areas, where families are sheltering in overcrowded conditions.