TEHRAN – Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry has issued a statement evaluating Iran’s Red Crescent Association (IRCS) for relief supplies following the devastating earthquake that hit the country.
Iran was the first country in Kunar to send humanitarian commissions to Quake-hit Afghans, the IRCS reported.
On August 31st, more than six earthquakes occurred in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, near the Pakistan border, on 23.47. The epicenter was in the Kama district, about 30 km northeast of Jalalabad city. Several aftershocks have been caused since the first earthquakes were felt in neighboring states such as Kunar, Laghman, Nuristan and Kabul. The hypocenter of the earthquake was estimated to be just 8-10 km below the surface, exacerbating the impact of the earthquake.
A second earthquake of 5.5 magnitude hit the area on Tuesday, further destabilizing the village.
The Taliban regime has confirmed 2,205 deaths, and at least 3,640 have been injured, but the UN warns that many people remain trapped under the tiled rub.
More than 6,700 homes were destroyed, tens of thousands of people became homeless and urgent assistance was needed.
“It is deeply saddened to learn about the devastating earthquakes that struck Nangarhar, Kunar, Nurstan and Lagman in eastern Afghanistan, causing many lives and injuries. Iran’s red crescent society provides sincere pathos to you and the families of the victims. Pirhossein Kolivand, head of the IRCS, wrote a message to the President of Shahabuddin Delawa of the Afghan Red Crescent Association (ARCS) on September 1st.
After the earthquake, President Masuud Pezeshkian expressed deep sadness over the tragedy of the Afghanistan’s “friendly and brotherly” country. He also wanted a quick recovery for the injured.
Foreign Minister Abbas Aragci separately expressed his sympathy to the people of Afghanistan and the families of the victims, emphasizing that Iran is ready to send relief and medical teams to the earthquake-hitting areas.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeir Bakai reiterated his pledge, emphasizing that Iran is ready to work with Afghanistan through regional and joint cooperation to help treat the injured and alleviate the pain caused by the disaster.
The initial shipment included 100 tons of essential goods, including approximately 50 tons of relief goods sent via flight, and 60 tons were transported across the de Gallon border onto land.
The commission included clothing, rice, beans, blankets and canned food.
“Iran’s Red Crescent Association has always endured a nation caught up in a humanitarian crisis, and in this bitter incident, as always, it will stand with all its strength by the noble and influenced people of Afghanistan,” said Rajie Alishavandi, an official of Iran’s Red Crescent Association.
The second shipment, sent on September 6th, was delivered to Kabul. It included 37 tons of groceries, 8 tons of sanitary packages and 10,000 blankets, according to the ISNA.
The third consignment was transported in six trucks on September 7th. It included important items such as tents, dishes, rice, canned food, and hygiene kits.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Associations estimates that around 84,000 people have been directly or indirectly affected by the earthquake, with thousands being displaced.
An assessment of British charity’s global relief assessment of Islamic Relief found that in some villages up to two-thirds of their inhabitants were killed or injured, and almost all of the buildings were severely damaged or destroyed.
Humanitarian groups are calling on the international community to not only save lives, but also to increase their support to help Afghanistan recover from the crisis after crisis, the IRCS reported.
mt/mg