A UNICEF official says Afghanistan faces the growing risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases following last week's earthquake that left the country's lifeline infrastructure battered.

UNICEF's Chief of Communications in Afghanistan, Samantha Mort, said in an interview with NHK on Monday that she is concerned about possible outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

Mort said water and sanitation systems were destroyed in affected areas. She added that efforts are underway to prevent the spread of acute watery diarrhea and Cholera.

The magnitude 5.9 quake last Wednesday left at least 1,040 people dead and more than 1,600 injured in the provinces of Khost and Paktika, according to local authorities.

UNICEF relief teams have been working there ever since.

Video footage from Paktika, taken by UNICEF staff members, shows residents cleaning up around their damaged houses, children sitting huddled together under tents, and people receiving treatment in hospital.

Mort said there are many children who lost family members, and that UNICEF has sent psychosocial therapists to help those children.

She appealed to the international community for support in rebuilding people's homes and their livelihoods.