The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck eastern regions of Afghanistan has risen to 812. Authorities from the Taliban government, the extremist group ruling the country, stated that the number of people injured due to collapsed buildings and other damage from the earthquake has also increased to 2,800. The earthquake, which measured 6.0 on the Richter scale, hit the eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar. This is a mountainous area that is difficult to access by land routes. Afghanistan is currently facing a humanitarian crisis. One reason for this is the Taliban’s overthrow of the elected government and seizure of power. Consequently, foreign aid to the country has been suspended. Additionally, the efforts to rebuild the country after the prolonged war led by the United States have faced significant challenges. With foreign aid halted, many who had migrated to other countries to escape the war have been forced to return to their homeland.
As the numbers of deaths and injuries from the powerful earthquake in Kunar and Nangarhar continue to rise, the Taliban government has appealed for assistance from foreign countries. Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Taliban government’s Ministry of Health, said that foreign aid is needed for those affected by the earthquake. “Due to the loss of many lives and extensive damage to people’s homes in this area, the need for foreign assistance is very great,” he said. The areas most severely affected by the earthquake are Afghan villages and towns near the border with Pakistan. Roads and civilian homes in these areas have been destroyed, and communication services have been disrupted. The Taliban government said they are working to travel to these areas to provide assistance to those in need.
“In the past 48 hours or so, the area has experienced heavy rainfall. This has increased the risk of landslides and mudslides, and many roads have been closed as a result,” said Kate Carey, an official from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). She also mentioned that efforts are underway to bury dead animals due to the risk of disease outbreaks in these areas.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense said that military helicopters are being used to rescue people affected by the earthquake and transport the injured to hospitals. This is the third major earthquake to hit Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in 2021. Analysts say that donor countries and organizations are reluctant to provide financial assistance to Afghanistan because the Taliban government continues to violate the rights of women and girls in the country.
