Years After US “Mother of All Bombs,” Afghan Village Struggles with Lasting Damage and Unanswered Questions

Eight years after the US dropped the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), known as the “mother of all bombs,” on a remote village in Afghanistan’s Achin district, residents continue to grapple with the devastating aftermath. The 10,000 kg bomb, the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used by American forces, was aimed at ISIL militants hiding in cave networks but leveled the entire village and surrounding farmland.

Villagers report widespread destruction of homes—many made of mud and deeply valued—and farmland that no longer yields crops as it once did. Many families rebuilt by selling livestock or jewelry, yet many remain unable to restart their lives fully. The blast’s shockwave was so powerful it was heard in neighboring provinces, leaving lasting physical and psychological scars.

Health issues persist, with locals suffering from skin diseases, respiratory problems, and mental health conditions they attribute to the bomb’s effects. Some residents accuse the US government of using their village as a testing ground for the weapon, while official Afghan health authorities have yet to conclusively link the illnesses to the bombing.

The Taliban-led administration has improved security but has made little progress addressing the environmental and health consequences. Villagers continue to await answers and assistance as they struggle to rebuild their community amid lingering contamination and trauma.

This rare report sheds light on the long-term human and environmental toll of one of the most powerful conventional bombs ever used in warfare, underscoring the unresolved challenges faced by Afghanistan’s war-affected populations.

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