Aid arrives in Afghanistan
International aid has started to arrive in Afghanistan following an earthquake on 22 June, which caused significant damage across the country. The Taliban, the group in charge of the Afghanistan government, requested aid from other countries and organisations to help with the impact of the crisis.
What happened in Afghanistan?
The earthquake struck in the middle of the night in the mountainous area of Paktika in eastern Afghanistan. Tremors were also felt in India and Pakistan. More than 1,000 people have died, and 3,000 have been injured. It is the worst earthquake to have hit the country in two decades (twenty years), and many people’s homes have been completely destroyed. Aftershocks have continued to be felt in the area in the days following the disaster, and it is currently unsafe for people to return.
What is being done to help?
Organisations such as the Red Cross and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have already provided aid to people affected by the quake. Volunteers have arrived in the region to provide food, drink, medicine and shelter to people, and medical teams and ambulances have also arrived to give medical attention to those who have been injured. UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, Dr Mohamed Ayoya said, “We stand in solidarity with the children and families affected during this time.” Nearby countries such as Pakistan and Qatar have also been providing essential supplies to those in need.
How is the UK helping?
Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, announced on 24 June that the UK will provide a total of £2.5 million for immediate life-saving support for people affected by the earthquake. The government will provide £2 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross and £500,000 to another organisation working on the ground to provide people with basic needs such as water, medication and shelter. Truss said, “The recent earthquake is a tragedy for the people of Afghanistan. The scale of need was already severe before the earthquake struck.”
Why does Afghanistan need so much money from other countries?
Afghanistan is a poor country which has been badly affected by war and drought among other things. It is run by the Taliban – a military and political group with extreme views. Following the Taliban’s rise to power in August 2021, many countries around the world reduced the amount of money they gave to Afghanistan. International aid had previously made up 80% of the Afghan government’s budget. In May, the United Nations (a group of 183 countries that work together) reported that 20 million people in Afghanistan were going hungry. Following the earthquake, the Taliban blamed the funding cuts for making it harder to get help to those who have been affected. In the past, the Taliban has diverted aid supplies and money away from people in need and towards their supporters. They have now pledged not to interfere with other countries or organisations transporting essential supplies to help victims of the earthquake.