TO THE TRAGEDY. BROOKLYN BISTRO IN EAST SACRAMENTO CELEBRATING THREE YEARS IN BUSINESS. CULTURE, TO ME, IS YOUR IDENTITY. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO DO THE BEST I CAN TO UPHOLD THAT, TO HONOR AFGHAN ROOTS. SUSAN AMIRI CONVERTED PART OF HER FAMILY’S RESTAURANT INTO AN AFGHAN CAFE. THE GRAND OPENING ON SUNDAY, A MOMENT OF TRIUMPH FOR THIS FAMILY, NOW OVERSHADOWED BY TRAGEDY. A 6.0 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE ROCKED THE REGION OF EASTERN AFGHANISTAN. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE KILLED, THOUSANDS INJURED. WITH HOSPITALS NOW OVER CAPACITY IN A RURAL REGION OF THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, SEEING OUR PEOPLE GO THROUGH THAT STILL AFFECTS ME HERE. IT COULD IT COULD BE ANY OF US. IT COULD HAVE BEEN MY FAMILY. IT COULD BE ME, MY CHILDREN. WHAT CAN I DO? HOW CAN I HELP? LET’S COME TOGETHER AND HELP AFGHAN AMERICAN AUTHOR ADINA HOWARD, NOW WORKING TO SPREAD THE WORD ON ORGANIZATIONS HELPING THE AFGHAN PEOPLE DIRECTLY ON THE GROUND. I WOULD SAY GO TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE AFGHAN, AMERICAN FUND, ISLAMIC RELIEF. A SEAL. THERE’S MANY ORGANIZATIONS ONLINE, ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT ARE COLLECTING DONATIONS TO GO AND HELP DELIVER AID AND RELIEF FOR THE AFGHANS IN AFGHANISTAN.
Sacramento’s Afghan American community heartbroken after devastating earthquake
Sacramento’s Afghan community heartbroken after earthquake
Updated: 7:50 PM PDT Sep 2, 2025
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake has killed at least 1,400 people and injured thousands in the eastern region of Afghanistan.The Sacramento region is home to one of the largest Afghan American communities in the United States.”It could have been my family, it could have been me or my children,” said Rahim Amiri.Amiri fled Afghanistan decades ago, eventually making Sacramento the place where he’d raise his family.He’s the owner of East Sacramento’s Brickland Bistro, a Middle Eastern restaurant that’s celebrating its third-year anniversary.”Culture to me is identity, and so I want to do my best to uphold that,” said his daughter, Suzan.To mark the occasion, she converted part of the restaurant into a cafe serving Afghan-inspired beverages and food. The grand opening on Sunday came just before the news of an earthquake that had created an unimaginable humanitarian crisis.”Let’s come together and help,” said Toba Adina-Jao, an Afghan American author.She has written several children’s books based on her Afghan culture, such as “Me, Mommy, Bolani.” Adina-Jao now wants to use her platform to raise awareness around the crisis in Afghanistan.Revive Afghanistan, Aseel, Afghan American Fund, and Islamic Relief are all organizations she recommends for people looking to send donations. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake has killed at least 1,400 people and injured thousands in the eastern region of Afghanistan.
The Sacramento region is home to one of the largest Afghan American communities in the United States.
“It could have been my family, it could have been me or my children,” said Rahim Amiri.
Amiri fled Afghanistan decades ago, eventually making Sacramento the place where he’d raise his family.
He’s the owner of East Sacramento’s Brickland Bistro, a Middle Eastern restaurant that’s celebrating its third-year anniversary.
“Culture to me is identity, and so I want to do my best to uphold that,” said his daughter, Suzan.
To mark the occasion, she converted part of the restaurant into a cafe serving Afghan-inspired beverages and food.
The grand opening on Sunday came just before the news of an earthquake that had created an unimaginable humanitarian crisis.
“Let’s come together and help,” said Toba Adina-Jao, an Afghan American author.
She has written several children’s books based on her Afghan culture, such as “Me, Mommy, Bolani.” Adina-Jao now wants to use her platform to raise awareness around the crisis in Afghanistan.
Revive Afghanistan, Aseel, Afghan American Fund, and Islamic Relief are all organizations she recommends for people looking to send donations.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
