On the night of 31st August, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan with tremors felt as far as Kabul and northwestern Pakistan, reportedly killing more than 2,000 people. The region lies along active fault lines in the politically isolated and cash-strapped nation and will have great difficulty initiating reconstruction of the widespread destruction before winter. Humanitarian and development agencies on site are clearing roads to facilitate reconstruction work. "On the ground, shortages of skilled labour, certified materials and adequate transport are causing further delays," said Sayed Ahmad Sahim, head of the Afghan unit of emergency management at the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH). "Many families lack the financial means, purchasing power or access to credit needed to contribute to reconstruction," he said. "In addition, communities in remote and mountainous areas are hard to reach, which complicates the delivery of materials and skilled supervision."