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On 31 August 2025, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, with epicentre near Jalalabad, Nangarhar province. Several aftershocks caused widespread damage across Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar, and Nuristan provinces. On 2 September, the Interim Taliban Authority reported over 1,400 deaths and 3,100 injuries, with thousands still missing. The death toll is expected to rise as search-and-rescue teams struggle to reach remote mountain communities cut off by landslides and blocked roads. The quake destroyed over 5,400 homes, leaving thousands of families without shelter or belongings. An estimated 6.8 million people live in earthquake-affected provinces, with heavy devastation reported in districts including Alingar (Laghman), Chawkay and Nurgal (Kunar), and Dara-e-Nur (Nangarhar). Hospitals are overwhelmed, and health centres are struggling with damage and a shortage of essential medical supplies, such as IV fluids and bandages. Clean drinking water and sanitation are scarce, raising the risk of disease outbreaks. The disruption to markets and livelihoods has also created an urgent need for food. (OCHA 02/09/2025, IOM 02/09/2025, WHO 02/09/2025)

On 24 August 2025, a landslide in Tarasin village in the Marra Mountains, West Darfur, killed many, with estimates varying (370–1,000 people). Heavy rainfall caused the collapse, flattening the village and leaving only one known survivor. The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, which controls the area, stated that all residents were buried under the debris. The disaster highlights the acute vulnerability of communities already facing Sudan’s protracted conflict. Its scale underscores Sudan’s overlapping humanitarian emergencies, alongside widespread displacement, famine risk, and violence in Darfur. Thousands of families in the region face heightened needs for shelter, food, healthcare, and burial assistance. National authorities have pledged support, but logistical constraints, insecurity, and the absence of specialised response teams limit immediate relief. The Marra Mountains, often used as a refuge during fighting, present access difficulties, complicating rescue and recovery efforts. (UN 02/09/2025, OCHA 02/09/2025, BBC 03/09/2025)

Syria is experiencing its worst drought in decades, with rainfall at just 25% of seasonal norms. Over 16.2 million people need humanitarian assistance, including more than ten million urgently requiring WASH support. In Damascus, water levels in the Ein Al Fijeh Spring have dropped to historic lows, cutting piped supply to under two hours daily for three million residents. Rural Damascus faces similar conditions, with the Barada River’s near disappearance leaving 1.2 million underserved. In Homs, well failures and groundwater depletion affect 1.5 million people, while Al Sweida reports consumption below survival thresholds. In Deir Al Zor and Raqqa, conflict-damaged systems have collapsed under drought pressures, while communities in Aleppo, Al Hasakeh, and Dar’a rely on costly water trucking. Livelihoods are deteriorating, with drought affecting over 75% of crops, reducing wheat production by 40%. Rising fodder prices have reduced livestock numbers by 40%, deepening food insecurity and eroding coping capacities. (IFRC 30/08/2025, Reuters 18/08/2025)