Earthquake in Afghanistan
On 22 June, 2022 midnight at 1.54 am, a deadly earthquake of Magnitude 5.9 was observed in the eastern areas of Afghanistan near Pakistan Border in the Spera District (Khost Province).
As of yet more than 1000 people have died, and more than 1600 people are reportedly injured.
Bilal Karimi (Taliban Spokesperson) said, “The situation is quite critical. Hundreds of houses are collapsed and we expect heavy human losses and serious damage to the infrastructure.” He said that hundreds of people are also trapped under the buildings that collapsed due to earth quake. “In this critical situation, we appeal to the international community and philanthropist organizations to come forward and help the Afghan people.” (according to NBC news)
Pakistan’s Help(Aid) to Afghanistan
Pakistan stood with afghan brothers in the hour of need. In the morning after the earthquake Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif in a tweet said, “Deeply grieved to learn about earthquake in Afghanistan, resulting in loss of innocent lives. People in Pakistan share the grief & sorrow of their Afghan brethren. Relevant authorities working to support Afghanistan in this time of need.”
Former PM Imran Khan also ordered KPK Government to facilitate Afghanistan with medical assistance. He tweeted, “My condolences & prayers go to the Govt & people of Afghanistan for the loss of lives suffered in the earthquake. I have asked the KP Govt to especially facilitate provision of all medical assistance.”
To provide medical aid to injured afghan people, Pakistan has opened more border crossings (Ghulam Khan and Angoor Adda border crossing points) so that injured can reach Pakistan’s hospitals.
Pakistan was the 1st country to send emergency assistance and aid to Afghanistan, which included tents, tarpaulins, blankets and the dispatch of emergency medicines.
Details of the Pakistan’s Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan after Earthquake are below:
NDMA moved 7 from Islamabad trucks to Afghanistan, which included
- 200x Tents.
- 200x Tarpaulin.
- 500x Blankets.
- Medicines.
5x more trucks were sent to Afghanistan via GKK on instructions of CM KP carrying following
- 200x tents.
- 200x NFI kits.
- 500x Mattresses.
XI Corps assistance to Afghan people includes
- 3x trucks Ration.
- 2x loaders of Medicines.
- District Administration Actions.
Health teams include
- 10/15 Doctors.
- 3x Ambulances.
- 3x administrative vehicles.
- Medicines.
Joint Free medical camp was also established at Alwara Mandi which was to function for next 2/3 days, medicine being provided by Civil administration.
A C-130 on 25th June 2022 brought relief assistance from Pakistan at Khost airport for earthquake affected people in Afghanistan. The relief goods were handed by Officer of Pakistan Embassy Kabul to Afghan Minister of Refugees. 19 Paramedics/Doctors of KPK government are also stationed at Khost Airport from 23 June with 3 Ambulances & mobile hospitals to treat injured & refer serious to hospitals in Pakistan. They were among the first ones to be in affected area after earthquake. Also a convoy of eight trucks of relief goods for earthquake affected people including tents, blankets & medicines sent by NDMA Pakistan have been handed over to Afghan side at Ghulam Khan by Pakistan Mission in Kabul’s Head of Chancery Abdul Bari.
Al-Khidmat Foundation Pakistan has also handed five trucks of relief goods to Afghan Consulate for earthquake affected areas. Other relief organizations in Pakistan also making arrangements for provision of emergency relief items.
Author: Ali Hassan
#TeamPakistanStrategicForum
