In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan, anxiety and heartbreak are spreading far beyond its borders. For Afghans living in Delhi, the tragedy feels painfully close as phone lines to their families and friends back home remain silent.
Many Afghans in the capital’s Lajpat Nagar and Bhogal neighborhoods, which host a large refugee community, have been desperately trying to connect with loved ones in quake-affected provinces. For hours, calls have gone unanswered, and the silence has deepened their fears.
“We don’t know if our families are safe. Every minute feels like a year,” said Ahmad, an Afghan student living in Delhi. “The only news we get is from TV channels, but nothing about our villages.”
The earthquake, one of the deadliest in recent years, has left hundreds dead and thousands injured, overwhelming fragile local infrastructure. In Delhi, community leaders have begun gathering to offer prayers and to discuss ways to mobilize relief through NGOs and international aid agencies.
For many Afghans who fled conflict to build a safer life in India, the disaster is a cruel reminder of the suffering that continues to shadow their homeland. “We may be far away, but our hearts are still in Afghanistan,” shared Fatima, a mother of two, her eyes welling up with tears.
As the community waits for updates, hope mingles with fear, and prayers for survival echo through Afghan households in Delhi.
