Afghanistan Earthquake: Aid Agencies Call for Increased Funding
In the aftermath of a devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Afghanistan, aid agencies operating in the hardest-hit areas are urgently appealing to the international community for more funding.
Despite the significant loss of life, with 2,205 people dead, thousands injured, and multiple villages buried under rubble in the country’s eastern region, only a few countries have stepped up to provide financial assistance for relief efforts.
The European Union has allocated €1 million in humanitarian funding along with 130 tonnes of in-kind aid to support those affected by the disaster. The United Kingdom has also pledged £1 million towards the cause.
It is important to note that the aid will be channeled through organizations actively engaged in on-ground relief operations, bypassing the Taliban-led government, which remains unrecognized by most Western nations.
Despite the pressing need for assistance, several traditional donor countries, including the United States, have yet to offer financial support, signaling a concerning trend in humanitarian aid allocation following significant cutbacks earlier this year.
The Taliban authorities have made appeals for international aid, despite imposing restrictions on the activities of NGOs and facing allegations of redirecting aid for their own purposes through coercive means.
Since the Taliban assumed power in 2021, international funding to Afghanistan has plummeted drastically, with only 28% of the targeted humanitarian funding being met this year.
Against the backdrop of a severe economic crisis and global isolation due to prolonged aid reductions, Afghanistan finds itself grappling with yet another calamity in the form of the recent earthquake, further straining local rescue efforts.
Jacopo Caridi, the Country Director of the Norwegian Refugee Council, highlighted the dire situation on the ground, emphasizing that local resources are severely stretched, hindering the prompt and effective delivery of humanitarian aid.
“The earthquake exacerbates the existing challenges faced by communities grappling with displacement, food insecurity, drought, and the return of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries,” Caridi stated.
Despite the ongoing rescue operations, access to the heavily impacted Kunar region remains a major challenge due to obstacles like rockfalls and landslides, impeding the delivery of critical aid to those in need.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric underscored the urgent need for continued support, emphasizing that the humanitarian needs in the aftermath of the earthquake are extensive and require immediate attention from the global community.
