On June 22, 2022, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook Afghanistan’s southeast. Now, a week later, attention is turned to providing aid after the devastating earthquake.
Afghan officials in areas which where most affected by the quake estimated over 1,000 people died. However, the United Nations humanitarian office estimated 770 deaths and 1,440 injured. According to The New York Times, “In Geyan alone, one of the hardest-hit districts in Paktika, the U.N. agency said that 1,500 houses were damaged or destroyed.”
New York Times journalists Christina Goldbaum and Safiullah Padshah arrived to Geyan to witness and report the damage. Particularly in the roads leading to Geyan, steep and hazardous roads pose a challenge for cars packed with blankets and food to cross. The journalists said that “The road to Geyan offered signs of the gravity of the crisis and the collective outpouring of support for those affected: Nearly every car we passed was carrying some kind of aid. There were small cars from local charities with piles of bread in their trunks and large trucks ferrying loads of flour, rice, and blankets in the back.”
For 15 minutes, the earthquake shook the ground uncontrollably. Even when the earthquake came to an end, the sound of panicking residents of Afghanistan continued to roar. Padshah Gul, a 30-year-old affected by the earthquake said, “[The earthquake] was like a bomb exploding.” After the ground stood still, he and his brother rushed into their collapsed house to find the lifeless faces of his cousin and his sister-in-law.
The Biden administration refuses to provide direct aid to the Taliban. However, the United States sent over one billion dollars to humanitarian programs and local organizations to provide assistance. The United States did not provide money and supplies directly to the Taliban because the Taliban could potentially use the money to support other terrorist organizations rather than aid people in need.
Internationally, programs and organizations continue to help support and aid people who have been affected by the earthquake including the World Health Organization (WHO). At this instant, people are continuing to ship tons of medical supplies and food to survivors of this severe natural disaster.
Afghan officials in areas which where most affected by the quake estimated over 1,000 people died. However, the United Nations humanitarian office estimated 770 deaths and 1,440 injured. According to The New York Times, “In Geyan alone, one of the hardest-hit districts in Paktika, the U.N. agency said that 1,500 houses were damaged or destroyed.”
New York Times journalists Christina Goldbaum and Safiullah Padshah arrived to Geyan to witness and report the damage. Particularly in the roads leading to Geyan, steep and hazardous roads pose a challenge for cars packed with blankets and food to cross. The journalists said that “The road to Geyan offered signs of the gravity of the crisis and the collective outpouring of support for those affected: Nearly every car we passed was carrying some kind of aid. There were small cars from local charities with piles of bread in their trunks and large trucks ferrying loads of flour, rice, and blankets in the back.”
For 15 minutes, the earthquake shook the ground uncontrollably. Even when the earthquake came to an end, the sound of panicking residents of Afghanistan continued to roar. Padshah Gul, a 30-year-old affected by the earthquake said, “[The earthquake] was like a bomb exploding.” After the ground stood still, he and his brother rushed into their collapsed house to find the lifeless faces of his cousin and his sister-in-law.
The Biden administration refuses to provide direct aid to the Taliban. However, the United States sent over one billion dollars to humanitarian programs and local organizations to provide assistance. The United States did not provide money and supplies directly to the Taliban because the Taliban could potentially use the money to support other terrorist organizations rather than aid people in need.
Internationally, programs and organizations continue to help support and aid people who have been affected by the earthquake including the World Health Organization (WHO). At this instant, people are continuing to ship tons of medical supplies and food to survivors of this severe natural disaster.
