Kabul: The Taliban on Saturday urged the United States to unfreeze Afghanistan’s foreign funds and lift financial sanctions to help the war-torn country deal with it. deadliest earthquake in more than two decades. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki, speaking to reporters in Kabul on Saturday, said: “In these difficult times, we call on the United States to release the frozen assets of Afghanistan and lift sanctions on Afghan banks so that aid agencies can easily reach the aid. Afghanistan.”
Notably, in February US President Joe Biden split the money between humanitarian aid for Afghanistan and a fund for 9/11 victims, freeing US$7 billion out of more than 9 billion frozen Afghan assets. signed an executive order for
Humanitarian organizations, in coordination with Taliban officials, are continuing to provide aid to families in Paktika and Khost, the two southeastern Afghan provinces hardest-hit by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake on Wednesday, the United Nations said, Voice of America (VOA) reported.
“However, there are unconfirmed reports that between 700 and 800 families are living in the open in three of the six worst-affected districts,” a UN statement said on Saturday.
“Families living in non-damaged and partially damaged buildings have also resorted to staying out in the open for fear that there may be further tremors,” it said.
Afghanistan earthquake kills 1,150, injured 1,600: Taliban official
According to Taliban officials, 1,150 people were killed in the quake, about 1,600 were injured and about 3,000 homes were destroyed, while hundreds were partially damaged. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF, at least 121 children were among the dead and the death toll is likely to rise.
Afghan officials have closed their search for survivors, and they were struggling to deliver critically needed aid due to capacity challenges. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Saturday: “We are working urgently to address the complex questions surrounding the use of these funds to ensure that it does not harm the Taliban but the people of Afghanistan.” Benefit.”
India provided aid to the people of Afghanistan
Meanwhile, India on Friday sent a second tranche of relief aid to the people of Afghanistan, which were badly affected by the earthquake in the eastern part of the country.
The relief batch that reached Kabul is the second in two days, being delivered in the wake of the devastating earthquake that claimed more than 1,000 lives.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet, “India’s second consignment of earthquake relief assistance to the people of Afghanistan has reached Kabul.”
The relief assistance includes essential items including family ridge tents, sleeping bags, blankets, sleeping mats, etc.
“Due to the tragic earthquake that hit Afghanistan on June 22, 2022, causing widespread destruction and loss of valuable lives, the Government of India as a true first responder has sent 27 tonnes of emergency relief aid in two flights to the people of Afghanistan. ,” the MEA said in a statement.
“As always, India stands with the people of Afghanistan, with whom we have centuries-old ties, and is strongly committed to providing immediate relief assistance to the Afghan people,” the statement said. India on Thursday handed over the first consignment to help Afghan citizens affected by the earthquake. India has also deployed a team at the Embassy in Kabul to coordinate the efforts of the stakeholders for the distribution of humanitarian aid.