Play and Healing: Child-Friendly Spaces Help Quake Survivors Cope in Kunar

Twelve-year-old Faridullah, a resident of the Sperko village in Dewagul valley of Sawkai district in Kunar, lost several family members in the recent devastating earthquake, leaving him with severe psychological distress.

Like many other children, he now spends time in a friendly environment in a temporary shelter for quake survivors, engaged in learning and play under the guidance of a teacher to help calm his mind and ensure psychological safety.

Faridullah told : “My uncle’s wife died, my brother and sister were injured, and other family members were also wounded. The earthquake scared us a lot. Even now, when I remember those moments, I get frightened and suffer mentally.”

Although the Kunar earthquake killed and injured thousands and its effects are hard for families to forget, the efforts made in these friendly spaces to address psychological trauma have been seen as positive. Many orphaned and vulnerable children emphasize the importance of continuing these initiatives.

Sana, another affected child, said: “They’ve made a classroom for us here. We play and study. The teachers work very hard with us.”

Another survivor, Gul Nazir, said: “The earthquake gave us mental problems. We want more of these classrooms and more play materials to help shift our minds. We’re still scared and carry the fear with us.”

At the same time, local officials in Kunar say they’ve established 13 child-friendly spaces in quake-hit areas, aimed at supporting the mental well-being of orphaned and vulnerable children.

Mujibullah Omar, head of Labor and Social Affairs in Kunar, told : “We’ve created 13 friendly spaces for earthquake-affected children, where 2,000 children both girls and boys are receiving educational and recreational services. Our goal is to ensure their mental well-being.”

Hazrat Jan who teaches the children said: “We teach these children volleyball, cricket, football, and doll play, along with lessons. They’ve been mentally affected by the earthquake, so this helps with their psychological recovery.”

This comes as Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, recently visited quake-affected areas in Kunar and called on aid organizations to urgently provide $139 million in humanitarian and long-term support for those impacted.