On Monday, the United Nations $ 110.3 million to provide lifesaving assistance to more than 360,000 Afghans, who killed about 1,000 people, including 150 children, in a magnitude 5.9 earthquake. Made an urgent appeal.
We will need funding in the next three months to meet the urgent humanitarian needs, prevent further deaths, and help rebuild homes and communities destroyed by disasters.
The quake destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes in several districts of Paktika and the host state, according to aid agencies and Taliban officials.
"I'm appealing to the world — help me. I need money. I need money. Afghanistan's UN Resident Relief Coordinator, Ramiz Arakbarov, was hit by the earthquake. He said in a video message when he visited an area of Paktika.
If provided by a donor, more than half of the sued funds would be spent on emergency shelters and non-food items. Approximately $ 35 million will be devoted to emergency food and medical needs.
Several countries in the region, including the United Nations, Iran, Qatar, Pakistan, India and China, have tents, We responded to the disaster with a plane loaded with clothes, medicine and groceries. The United Nations also promised assistance. Has already responded and is evaluating other response options, "State Secretary of State Antony Brinken said in a statement on June 22, when the quake was reported.
The earthquake response complaint is separate from Afghanistan's humanitarian complaint of $ 4.4 billion in 2022, which is the largest single-country complaint ever launched by the United Nations. .. Earlier this year, donors promised less than 34% of humanitarian complaints. With a $ 459.6 million commitment, the United States is at the top of the donor list.
Temporarily pending online funding
Hours after the quake was reported, an online campaign appeared on the social platform and asked for help. ..
Over the past five days, crowdfunding platform GoFundMe has launched at least 120 individual funding calls, raising more than $ 500,000 from international donors.
However, due to US sanctions against the Taliban, some funds cannot be transferred to banks in Afghanistan.
"I've raised a lot of money thanks to the goodwill of the people, but I can't move it because of politics and bureaucracy," Ajmal Ziarmal, who raised over $ 26,000 at GoFundMe, told VOA. rice field.
"People have lost their loved ones, their homes, and everything they had, and they should not be further punished for politics," he adds. I did.
A GoFundMe spokesman expressed sympathy for the victims of the Afghanistan earthquake, but said some of the funds raised on the platform were temporarily withheld.
"If funds are temporarily withheld, it usually means that a clear path to beneficiaries has been established, and that fundraising activities comply with GoFundMe's Terms of Service and international law and regulations. It means that you are doing it, "said a spokesman. He told VOA.
California-based commercial platforms have encouraged donors to donate to validated campaign participants whose accounts are not subject to transfer restrictions. As of June 27, nine verified campaign participants are raising funds for earthquake response.
The United States has issued a humanitarian exemption for financial transactions with the Afghanistan, especially if aid does not directly benefit the Taliban. However, aid agencies say they still face significant obstacles and delays in banking transactions with the country.
"The formal banking system continues to block remittances because it causes excessive risk mitigation, impacts on payment channels, and supply chain disruptions," said Martin, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator. Griffiths told the Security Council last week. ..
