To address the devastating consequences of the earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on 31 August 2025, HI deployed its teams of emergency physiotherapist to the Nangarhar Regional Hospital in Jalalabad, the region's largest city. This initiative, made possible thanks to support from the European Union, helps to strengthen the hospital's healthcare staff’s skills and to treat patients through emergency physiotherapy sessions and the provision of walking sticks, crutches and wheelchairs. Mashur Zamin Khan, in his early 30s, is one of them. He explains how this support has given him hope and enabled him to walk again.
The day everything changed
Despite his injuries, Mashur has a bright smile and a quick laugh. He lives with his wife and their two sons, aged 4 and 1, several hours away from Jalalabad, in a village in the north of Kunar province that is difficult to reach due to winding roads that are often in poor condition. Mashur works as a watchman for an NGO that provides healthcare services to local inhabitants, many of whom were affected by the devastating earthquake on 31st August.
When he was admitted to hospital in October, Mashur had a life-threatening head injury and fractures to his hip and tibia. Concerned, he explained that he was poor and that his family depended entirely on him for their survival. He did not know how he would be able to walk back home, let alone when he would be able to return to work. Lying in his bed, left leg in plaster and a back slab, Mashur explained how this came to happen:
"One day, while I was at work for this health NGO, I was crossing the road and... I had an accident," he explains in a neutral tone. He smiles knowingly, the irony of the situation was not lost on him.
Crutches and physiotherapy sessions to restore hope
When he meets him, Khushal Osmani, HI's physiotherapist, explains to Mashur the importance of movement to mobilise his limbs and thus speed up his recovery. He teaches him a number of exercises to help him move better. Mashur is also provided with crutches, which he learns to use to stand, walk and even ascend and descend stairs. On his third session, Mashur takes the plunge and takes his first steps since his accident.
"Maybe I could even walk home on these!" he jokes, puffing hard at the bottom of the stairs. Back in his bed, Mashur explains that physiotherapy has helped give him the pathway to recovery:
"Soon I'll be able to be mobile again and eventually return to work. First, learning how to use these crutches properly will give me greater independence and I won’t be as much of a burden for my family at home. I can't wait to go home and see my loved ones again – especially my wife!"
Improving access to healthcare at Jalalabad hospital
With support from the European Union, HI has deployed teams to improve access to rehabilitation care at Nangarhar Regional Hospital in Jalalabad. The aim of this intervention is to fill gaps in emergency physical rehabilitation services.
At the end of September, a flight operated by the European Union Humanitarian Air Bridge (EU HAB) delivered more than five tons of essential equipment for patient care, such as crutches, wheelchairs and walking sticks. By the end of October, the intervention already improved the physical and functional abilities of 224 patients and their caregivers and prevented the onset of permanent disabilities. In addition, HI trained 46 hospital staff members in emergency rehabilitation to improve patient care.
