A strong earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan on Sunday night, killing more than 1,400 people and injuring over 3,000, according to Taliban officials. The United Nations has warned that the number of dead and injured could rise quickly in the coming days.
The worst damage was reported in Kunar province, but several provinces were affected. Many homes in the area were built with mud bricks and wood, which could not survive the strong shaking. Entire villages have been destroyed, leaving people trapped under the rubble.
Rescue operations are very difficult because the area is mountainous and hard to reach. Roads are damaged, and helicopters cannot land in many places. The Taliban had to send commandos by air to carry injured people from remote villages. To make things worse, a 5.2 aftershock shook the same region on Tuesday, frightening people even more.
The United Nations resident coordinator in Afghanistan, Indrika Ratwatte, said rescuers are in a “race against time” to reach survivors. He also warned that people in Afghanistan are already suffering from many other problems, such as poverty, lack of aid, and millions of Afghans being sent back from Iran and Pakistan. He asked the international community to help quickly.
This is the third major earthquake in Afghanistan since the Taliban took power in 2021. The country is struggling with a weak economy and big cuts in international aid. Many donor countries have reduced their budgets because of other global crises, so Afghanistan is not receiving enough help.
The Taliban government has appealed to the world for support, but aid remains limited. Meanwhile, survivors are facing cold nights, destroyed homes, and little food or medical care.
For the people of Afghanistan, this earthquake is another painful disaster in an already difficult time. Without fast and strong help from the international community, many more lives may be lost.
-Peace News Desk