The death toll in the powerful earthquake that struck a remote border region of Afghanistan overnight, has reached 1000, leaving several injured. Even before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan’s emergency response teams were stretched to deal with the natural disasters that frequently struck the country. The latest earthquake comes at a time when Afghanistan is battling a severe humanitarian disaster, worsened by the Taliban takeover of the country. Aid agencies and the United Nations say Afghanistan needs billions of dollars this year to tackle the crisis. Aid agencies have particularly stressed the need for greater disaster preparedness in Afghanistan, which remains extremely susceptible to recurring earthquakes, floods, and landslides.

Source: Punch June 22, 2022 16:34 UTC