Aftershocks Add to Injuries from Powerful Earthquake in Afghanistan
A powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the mountainous region of the country, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring nearly 4,000. The aftershocks are adding miseries to the already-devastated victims of the economically-troubled nation.
The quake, which occurred just before midnight on a Sunday, devastated villages made of mud bricks and wood, particularly in the hard-hit provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar, Al Jazeera reported.
The devastation has been compounded by a series of powerful aftershocks, with the strongest measuring magnitude 5.6, which have caused at least 10 more injuries and continue to create fear among the population. Many families are opting to stay in the open rather than return to their damaged homes, which are vulnerable to further tremors.
Rescue and relief efforts are being significantly hampered by the rugged terrain, with landslides and fallen rocks blocking key roads to affected villages. The Taliban authorities have deployed helicopters and airdropped army commandos to reach isolated communities, and aid workers have reported walking for hours to deliver supplies.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reported that more than 6,700 homes have been destroyed, leaving approximately 84,000 people affected by the disaster. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a funding gap of at least $4 million, which could delay critical aid and increase the risk of disease from overcrowded shelters and unsafe water.
The humanitarian situation is further strained by the influx of millions of Afghans who have recently been deported from neighboring countries like Pakistan and Iran. A request by the UN refugee chief to Pakistan to pause the expulsions in the wake of the earthquake was rejected.
