Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, has urged the international community to provide urgent aid to those affected by the recent earthquake in Kunar province as winter approaches.
Kabul 24: During her visit to the earthquake-hit areas, Otunbayeva emphasized the extensive needs of the people in this mountainous region, warning that conditions for survivors will worsen with the onset of cold weather.
Speaking from Mazar Dara in Kunar, the epicenter of the August 31 earthquake, she stated: “Two weeks have passed since this disaster, and the needs remain immense. This is a mountainous area, and winter is near.
We call on all countries that have not yet contributed to step forward. While significant aid has been received, the needs far exceed what has been provided.”Otunbayeva appealed to UN member states and the private sector to increase support for the affected communities.
The August 31 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan killed over 2,200 people, injured 3,600, and destroyed around 7,000 homes and 21 healthcare facilities.
Describing the earthquake as the third and most severe in Afghanistan, Otunbayeva said: “The people are in profound distress.
The shortage of nurses and doctors is glaring, and the need for expanded medical services is more critical than ever.” She stressed that continued global assistance for shelter, healthcare, and winter supplies could save thousands of lives.
The United Nations has requested $140 million in humanitarian aid to address the crisis.
Otunbayeva highlighted the need for resource mobilization, adding: “We require sustained support to deliver medical services, shelter, and winter supplies to those affected in time.”This appeal comes as approximately half a million people in Kunar remain in urgent need of assistance.
Otunbayeva called on the international community to take swift action to alleviate the suffering of the people in this region, given the severity of the disaster and the harsh conditions ahead.
