Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan has dispatched 105 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan after a devastating earthquake struck the country earlier this week, killing nearly 1,500 people.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the relief effort on Wednesday, saying the decision followed his phone call with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
The 6.0-magnitude quake, which struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, left at least 1,469 people dead and more than 3,700 injured, according to Taliban officials. It is among the deadliest earthquakes to hit the country in decades.
The relief package from Pakistan includes food supplies, medicines, tents, blankets, and bubble mats to support survivors. The convoy crossed into Afghanistan through the Torkham border, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said in a statement.
Read More: Death Toll From Afghanistan’s Earthquake Crosses 1100, More Deaths Feared
A departure ceremony was held at the NDMA’s Islamabad warehouse, attended by Minister of State for Religious Affairs Kheal Das Kohistani as chief guest, along with senior officials from the NDMA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dar expressed condolences on social media, writing, “We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. Pakistan stands in solidarity with the brotherly people of Afghanistan in this difficult time.”
Meanwhile, rescue operations in Afghanistan remain difficult as access to remote areas is blocked by landslides and continuous aftershocks. Survivors have been spending nights outdoors in fear of fresh tremors, while rescuers dig through debris in search of those trapped.
Read More: Midnight Earthquake in Afghanistan Kills Over 600, Entire Villages Collapsed
The majority of deaths were reported in Kunar province, with additional casualties in Nangarhar and Laghman. Afghan authorities have even deployed commandos by air to inaccessible sites to evacuate survivors.
Aid groups warn that time is running out. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said its stocks could run dry within four weeks without urgent international funding. WFP head in Afghanistan, John Aylieff, told Reuters that this year’s funding stands at under $300 million, a sharp fall from $1.7 billion in 2022.
With Afghanistan already struggling with war, poverty, and dwindling aid, relief efforts face serious challenges in a country of 42 million people now battling the aftermath of two major earthquakes.
