An earthquake, which struck the eastern provinces of Paktika and Khost in Afghanistan, has actually left over 1,000 dead and hundreds more injured– marking the very first significant natural catastrophe obstacle to the recently established Taliban federal government which took control of control of the area following the withdrawal of American forces in 2021.
A U.N. envoy reports that a minimum of 2,000 houses have actually been damaged in the mountainous area, and Bakhtar News Agency, the state-run news agency of Afghanistan, stated that the quake “killed over 1,000 people and injured thousands more in four districts of southeastern Paktika province.”
Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of State for Disaster Management pledged to provide “100,000 Afs (|$1,000) for the families of those who were killed in the earthquake and 50,000 (|$500)” for the households of those hurt in the quake.
According to Bakhtar, the Afghani Ministry of Defense has actually released 7 helicopters to help in transferring the most seriously injured to civilian and military healthcare facilities, keeping in mind that 100 individuals have actually been airlifted out of the catastrophe zone up until now. The quake positions a specific obstacle to the brand-new Afghanistan routine that, given that getting power, has actually seen most international aid companies withdraw from the area.
Still, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has actually provided a declaration indicating a growing international response:
The World Health Organization (WHO) and several Non-Governmental Organizations are deploying mobile health teams, medicines and medical equipment to Paktika and Khost provinces and mobilizing additional medical supplies. WHO has delivered 100 cartons of emergency medicine to the districts of Barmal and Giyan in Patkika. Inter-agency joint needs assessments will be carried out in both districts in the coming days.
The UN Children’s Fund has deployed at least 12 teams of health workers to worst-hit Giyan district in Patkika Province, and several mobile health and nutrition teams to Barmal district also in Paktika and Spera district in Khost Province.
In Addition, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh has actually vowed to render help to the victims of the quake, and the Iranian federal government has actually currently dispatched two planes filled with supplies. China, Pakistan, and Turkey have actually likewise used to offer emergency situation assistance to the area.
The United States, which does not have an official relationship with Taliban-led Afghanistan and runs its embassy out of Qatar, released the following declaration after the earthquake:
We are deeply saddened by reports of an earthquake in eastern Afghanistan. We offer our heartfelt condolences to all who have been affected by this devastating event.
— U.S. Embassy Kabul (@USEmbassyKabul) June 22, 2022
TOLO News, an agency headquartered in Kabul, uploaded footage from the disaster zone:
Video: Rescue workers in Paktika respond to aftermath of an earthquake that has killed hundreds in southeastern Afghanistan.#TOLOnews pic.twitter.com/XuBzCX3O8e
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) June 22, 2022
Nearly 2,000 homes have been destroyed by the deadly earthquake in Afghanistan, according to a UN envoy.
Many injured people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble.
For more: https://t.co/3vlLvFTzdX pic.twitter.com/dNcAXyEfuC
— DW News (@dwnews) June 22, 2022
H/T Timcast
Video: Site of earthquake damage in Speri district of Khost province in southeastern Afghanistan.#TOLOnews pic.twitter.com/Hlnfig25Et
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) June 22, 2022
