Afghanistan earthquake death toll, UN warns of rise

JALALABAD, Afghanistan: The United Nations has warned that casualties from the almighty earthquake successful eastbound Afghanistan are apt to rise. The latest number is 2,200, which was reported by Afghan authorities connected Thursday. Several 1000 much person been injured.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the figures truthful acold bespeak lone Kunar province, 1 of respective areas deed by the 6.0 magnitude quake connected August 31. Entire villages of mud-brick and timber homes were flattened, with survivors trapped beneath the rubble.

Rescue efforts person been hampered by mountainous terrain. Taliban authorities deployed commandos by aerial to evacuate those stranded successful areas inaccessible to helicopters. Aid groups are besides struggling to scope isolated communities. Save the Children said 1 of its teams walked much than 12 miles done landslide-blocked roads to present aesculapian supplies, assisted by residents.

On September 2, a 5.2-magnitude aftershock struck adjacent the epicenter, but determination were nary contiguous reports of further damage.

Indrika Ratwatte, the U.N.'s nonmigratory coordinator for Afghanistan, said rescuers were successful a "race against time" to scope distant villages, informing that casualties could emergence sharply. He urged the planetary assemblage not to place Afghanistan, wherever radical are already enduring overlapping crises of conflict, poverty, and forced displacement.

This catastrophe is the 3rd large earthquake since the Taliban seized powerfulness successful 2021. It comes arsenic Afghanistan grapples with terrible cuts to aid, economical turmoil, and the wide instrumentality of Afghans from neighboring countries.

The Taliban government, recognized lone by Russia, has appealed for planetary assistance. However, planetary assistance to Afghanistan remains constricted owed to competing crises and reduced donor budgets. As of Friday determination has been nary exigency assistance oregon backing pledged by the United States.

To enactment relief, the U.N. has released US$5 cardinal from its exigency fund, to beryllium matched by different $5 cardinal from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund.

According to U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, astatine slightest 25 appraisal teams are already connected the ground, delivering supplies specified arsenic blankets and star lamps. Aid officials person flagged urgent needs, including shelter, aesculapian kits, cleanable drinking water, and food.

International donors person pledged support. The U.K. announced £1 cardinal ($1.3 million) for humanitarian groups, bypassing the Taliban government. The European Union is sending 130 tons of exigency supplies and 1 cardinal euros ($1.16 million) successful aid. India has dispatched 21 tonnes of alleviation materials, portion China and the U.A.E. person besides promised assistance.

Within Kunar, Taliban authorities person acceptable up a campy to coordinate supplies and exigency operations, on with 2 centers to oversee rescues, burials, and the transport of the injured.