In a swift and compassionate response to a devastating 6-magnitude earthquake, India has dispatched emergency relief materials to Afghanistan. The powerful quake, which struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, has reportedly killed over 800 people and injured more than 2,000, with casualty figures expected to rise.
On Monday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to convey India’s condolences and assess the situation on the ground. In a post on social media, Jaishankar stated that India had already delivered 1,000 family tents to Kabul and that the Indian mission had sent 15 tonnes of food items directly to Kunar province, the epicenter of the destruction. He further pledged that more relief material would be sent from India starting on Tuesday.
A Catastrophe in Remote Villages
The earthquake, which hit eastern Afghanistan just before midnight local time, caused widespread destruction. Most of the casualties were reported in Kunar province, where entire villages were destroyed and roads were blocked by landslides, hampering rescue efforts. Taliban officials have noted that rescuers are facing significant challenges in accessing remote valleys, and the immediate needs include medical supplies, shelter, food, and heavy machinery for rubble clearance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives in a social media post, stating that India stands ready to provide “all possible humanitarian aid and relief to those affected.” This gesture of support from India comes amidst a humanitarian crisis in the country, which is already grappling with poverty and a fragile infrastructure.
The disaster’s impact was also felt in neighboring provinces, with additional deaths and injuries reported in Nangarhar, Laghman, and Nuristan. The response from the international community, including India, is crucial as the country struggles to cope with the scale of the disaster and the overwhelming needs of the affected population.
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Title: India Sends Aid to Afghanistan After Earthquake Kills Over 800
Tags: India, Afghanistan, Earthquake, Humanitarian Aid, S Jaishankar, Narendra Modi, Kunar Province, Natural Disaster, Taliban, India-Afghanistan Relations
#Tags: #India #Afghanistan #Earthquake #HumanitarianAid #SJaishankar #NarendraModi #NaturalDisaster #Kunar #Taliban #DisasterRelief