The Taliban in Afghanistan struggles to cope with the aftermath of a major earthquake that has killed at least 1,000 people, injured more, and destroyed nearly 2,000 households in a war-torn country. So I called for international assistance on Thursday. The
magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the eastern and southeastern states of Afghanistan, which border Pakistan, early Wednesday. Officials said the disaster buried the entire family, including women and children, under the rubble of the entire district of Paktika and the host, the most affected states.
On Thursday, authorities and aid workers struggle to reach disaster zones due to lack of communications and proper road networks in some of Afghanistan's poorest and most remote areas. Did. The most affected areas lack the infrastructure to withstand disasters like this week's earthquake. This is the worst in 20 years.
Heavy rains and landslides also hindered rescue operations, forcing refugee families to spend the night without shelters. State Health Director Hematullah Esmat told local media that at least 3,000 families in Paktika alone need urgent humanitarian assistance.
Kabul's Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Kahar Balki said victims urgently needed food, drinking water, medicine, mobile medical teams, warm clothing and shelters. rice field.
"But the United States lifts sanctions and unfreezes Afghanistan's assets, ending a cold attitude towards Afghanistan's life, with 20 years of occupation and this latest natural disaster. Being able to rebuild a destroyed life is even more important, "Balph told VOA.
"People and relief agencies who want to help rebuild the lives of families who have lost their only earners in the quake cannot send the money they need. This corrupt atrocities need to be urgently ended. There is, "Balki insisted.
The government quickly deployed several helicopters to support rescue operations, but needed more helicopters as emergency rescue teams and rescue supplies had to be provided by air. He said.
Balkh said that most of Afghanistan's aircraft were "irreparably damaged or brought to a third country by the United States" before the Taliban took power last August. Repeatedly stated.
The United Nations World Food Program said Thursday that post-disaster assessments are still underway, but food has been deployed rapidly. Logistics equipment to provide emergency relief to the first 3,000 households in the earthquake-stricken area.
"People in Afghanistan are already facing an unprecedented crisis after decades of conflict, severe droughts and recessions," said Gordon Craig, Deputy President of WFP. Said. In addition to the already enormous humanitarian needs, including about 19 million people nationwide who face severe hunger and need help, they endure every day, "Craig added. , Food, medicine, shelters and other necessities arrived from Pakistan, Iran and Qatar on Thursday. They said relief supplies had been transported to the disaster-stricken areas.
A U.S. and NATO partner, whose Muslim group hijacked Afghanistan a few days later, withdrew its final force on August 30, ending nearly 20 years of foreign military intervention in South Asian countries. I let you.
Washington and other Western nations have swiftly stopped financial support for La. Afghanistan, which relies heavily on aid, has seized more than $ 9 billion worth of foreign assets, most of which are held by the United States, isolating Afghanistan's banking system.
Actions on senior Tullivan leaders and long-term terrorism-related sanctions have put the war-torn Afghanistan economy on the brink of collapse, already due to years of war and persistent drought. Exacerbated the terrible humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
The international community has not yet recognized the Islamic Taliban as a legitimate ruler of Afghanistan because of terrorism and concerns about human rights.
On Wednesday, the US government expressed "deep sorrow" to the victims of the Afghanistan earthquake.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that President Joe Biden "is monitoring progress and will have the most impact on USAID and other federal partners. He has instructed us to evaluate US response options to help those who receive it. "
Sullivan is the United States' largest donor of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, whose humanitarian partners have already evacuated medical care and puppies to the ground.
"We promise to continue to meet the needs of the Afghan people during and after this horrific tragedy."
According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake Occurred about 44 km from Khost, a city in southeastern Afghanistan, at a depth of 51 km.
According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center, shaking was felt over 500km in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.