More than 1,500 people were declared dead and 1,600 others injured on Thursday, June 23, after the previous day’s earthquake hit near the city of Khost by the Pakistan border. Being already faced with an economic and humanitarian crisis, the tragedy additionally strikes a blow against the country's theretofore threatened well-being.
With a magnitude of 5.9, the earthquake is said to be the deadliest in decades, taking its toll on rural areas - in Paktika province, particularly in the Giyan, Nika, Barmal and Zirok districts, claims the State Ministry for Disaster Management - placed in the proximity of the epicentre where the building structures are kept on a very low level; most constructions being made of mud, wood and other fragile materials exposed to unpredictable weather catastrophes. To make matters worse, the earthquake had concurred with heavy monsoon rain in the region at that time.
The quake was registered at a depth of 10 kilometres, states the USGC. The convulsion hit at 1:24 a.m. local time when most of the people were sleeping. It is said to be the deadliest cataclysm of the XXIst century. “Nearly all government and private hospitals are full of victims,” admits Awal Khan Zadran, a doctor for the Urgun Paktika district.
The Taliban already motivated emergency resources, helicopters and ambulances, offering compensation to the families of the victims. Yet, since the country has already been in a devastating state before, they appeal for "the generous support of all countries, international organisations, individuals and foundations". It is China, United States of America, ONZ and European Union that have offered aid as for now.
After “decades of conflict, protracted severe drought, the effects of other intense climate-related disasters, extreme economic hardship, a battered health system, and system-wide gaps” - says IFRC, calling for international help - Afghanistan and its citizens are at serious risk, threatening their existence.
It is surprising to see that the catastrophe is not as widely reported and talked about in the media as it should have been. With numbers going up every other hour, in spite of the fact that the calamity was recognised, its disastrous scale is only beginning to be discovered.
In light of these calamitous events, the world’s unity is more required than ever before. Let us all pray and offer support for those suffering and affected, and hope for peace for those who were taken in the seism.
Klara Gonciarz
June 23, 2022
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