An earthquake survivor has reported the loss of 26 relatives when rescuers resort to digging by hand in villages raised on the ground in eastern Afghanistan.
It comes amid confusion over an official request for assistance. Although the Taliban government says it has called for international aid, the United States says it has not received any official communication.
The European Union offered quick help, allocating 1 million euros in humanitarian funding, and warned that “it is estimated that 270,000 people living in the affected areas will need emergency aid.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences on Twitter and offered humanitarian aid. Other countries such as Pakistan, South Korea and Japan have also pledged support.
Rescue efforts by the country’s hardline Islamist leaders are facing a major test as they have been cut short by much international aid since taking power last summer. There have already been poor responses to aid demands despite the drought and the collapse of the economy.
At least 1,000 people have been killed and more than 1,500 injured in a magnitude 6.1 earthquake that struck a rural and mountainous region on Wednesday and crushed stone houses and mud bricks.
Most of the fatalities have occurred in Paktika province, where the Gayan district near the epicenter of the magnitude 6.1 earthquake has severely damaged buildings.
As rescue crews and villagers resumed searching for survivors digging through the rubble with their hands on Thursday, Mohammad Amin Huzaifa, head of Paktika’s information and culture department, said: “People are digging grave after grave.” .
A man who was treated at Paktika Provincial Hospital said he had lost dozens of relatives, including his own children.
“I was at my house and the earthquake happened at 1.30 local time. Everything fell on us and at that moment we didn’t know what was happening,” Gulak said.
“I lost 26 of my relatives, including cousins and close relatives … even my own children were killed.”
Amir Gul said he had lost seven relatives and six others had been injured.
“It was a very strong earthquake … all the houses are destroyed and ruined. Paktika province is a big province but there is no food, no tents or other facilities here.
“People are now in the open. We are asking for help … many people are injured,” he added.
The disaster comes amid an economic and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control in August 2021 and the withdrawal of US-led international forces after two decades of war.
Its already fragile economy, heavily dependent on aid, has been paralyzed by Western sanctions on its banking sector and aid cuts.