UK allocates £1m in emergency aid for Afghan quake victims

KABUL (Pajhwok): The UK Foreign Office has allocated £1 million in emergency aid to help victims of the recent earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, saying the money would be distributed through UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC).

In a statement, the UK Foreign Office wrote: “These funds will be split equally between the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Red Cross (IFRC) to deliver critical healthcare and emergency supplies to Afghans in the most affected regions.”

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “News of the earthquake in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan is truly tragic. The UK remains committed to the people of Afghanistan, and this emergency funding will help our partners to deliver critical healthcare and emergency supplies to the most hard-hit”.

Two nights ago, shortly after 12am, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake shook most parts of the country, leaving hundreds of people dead and thousands injured in eastern Kunar Province.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) Zabihullah Mujahid, told media in Kabul that the death toll from the earthquake in the districts of Nur Gul (Mazar Dara), Chawki, Watapur, Manogi, Chapa Dara and other areas of Kunar has reached 800, and another 2,500 people have been injured.

hz/ma