UNITED NATIONS: In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Herat province, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep sadness over the loss of life and the widespread damage caused.
The earthquake, which also affected neighbouring provinces, claimed the lives of over 2,400 people and left more than 2,000 others injured.
Guterres’ spokesman conveyed the Secretary-General’s heartfelt solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, offering sincere condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a swift recovery to those injured. The United Nations, in collaboration with its partners in Afghanistan, is swiftly coordinating with the authorities to assess the urgent needs and provide essential emergency assistance to the affected communities.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) promptly responded to the crisis, extending aid to 20,000 individuals in the affected areas. The aid packages, designed to sustain for at least one month, encompass essential supplies such as flour, oil, salt, and yellow split peas. Distribution of the aid is set to commence soon, with plans in place to extend food assistance or cash aid to a total of 70,000 people, as outlined by Wahidullah Amani, a spokesperson for WFP Afghanistan.
The earthquake’s impact reverberated globally, evoking an outpouring of sympathy and support from numerous countries. Prominent nations, including the United States, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan, expressed their heartfelt sorrow over the tragedy and pledged their commitment to providing assistance to the victims.
Governor of Khorasan Razavi, Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Ali Nazari, highlighted the active presence of the head of the Red Crescent in the affected region, reinforcing humanitarian efforts on the ground. Furthermore, Abdul Latif Sabit, an official of the Afghanistan Red Crescent Society, acknowledged the substantial support rendered by the Mohammad bin Salman Foundation (MISK), which provided approximately 15,750 food aid packages to aid the earthquake-stricken communities.
The earthquake, which wrought havoc upon approximately 15 villages in Herat, underscores the urgent need for concerted global efforts to alleviate the suffering and aid in the recovery of the affected population.
