International Crisis in Afghanistan: Urgent Call for Global Aid Following Deadly Earthquakes
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that have hit Afghanistan, several organizations are stepping up to provide aid. UNICEF, with support from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), has sent 130 tons of relief supplies, helping thousands of families affected by the disaster. The United Nations has also allocated $5 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to aid the response.
The Swiss government has pledged 1 million Swiss francs for earthquake relief efforts, while the NGO Help, active in Afghanistan for over 40 years, continues to provide emergency aid, relief supplies, food aid, and psychosocial support. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is scaling up its medical teams in the affected areas, but warns that supplies are "stretched thin."
However, logistical access and funding remain major obstacles for international relief agencies. The Minister of Economy and head of the Aid Coordination Committee, Din Mohammad Hanif, has urged the United Nations and humanitarian organizations to speed up the delivery of aid to survivors of the recent earthquakes in several eastern provinces.
The situation in Afghanistan is worsening, according to aid groups. Beyond the earthquakes, the country is facing challenges such as drought, food insecurity, and the crisis of returnees. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that some of those killed in the earthquakes were families who had only recently returned from neighboring countries.
Updated figures from Kunar province, the area worst affected by the earthquakes, show that at least 1,411 people have been killed, 3,124 injured, and 5,412 homes destroyed. Local residents in affected areas report that the destruction has left entire villages without shelter. Mohammad Rahim, a shopkeeper from Laghman, has expressed an urgent need for tents, food, and medicine.
The Ministry of Economy in Afghanistan has called for immediate support from UN agencies and both domestic and international non-governmental organizations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres' spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, stated that this allocation would "kickstart the response" in Afghanistan.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 23 million Afghans are predicted to require humanitarian assistance in 2025. The aid efforts are a crucial step towards rebuilding the lives of those affected by the earthquakes and addressing the ongoing crises in Afghanistan.
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