Afghanistan ambassador appreciates Indian diplomat's solidarity with earthquake-hit nation

NEW DELHI: Farid Mamundzay, Afghanistan Ambassador has commended the Indian diplomatic corps for showing solidarity with the people affected by the recent earthquake in Afghanistan's Paktika, Khost and Nangarhar provinces.

Taking to Twitter, Mamundzay wrote, "Greatly appreciate the profound sympathies and solidarity of the members of the diplomatic corps in India with the people of Afghanistan following the earthquake that struck the provinces of Paktika, Khost & Nangarhar on 22 June killing more than 1,200 people."

Diplomats and government officials signed a condolence book at the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi, expressing their country's deepest condolences for the tragic loss of life.

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit parts of Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul on June 22. More than 1,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the incident in the Barmal and Giyan districts of Paktika province and the Spera district of Khost province.

In addition, 1,455 people were injured - many of them seriously - in three of the six worst-hit districts of Barmal, Gian and Spera. More than 10,000 houses were destroyed. Following this, India handed over batches of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in the presence of Taliban officials.

The relief aid handed over by JP Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs (PAI) includes essential items including family ridge tents, sleeping bags, blankets and sleeping mats to help the people of Afghanistan in the earthquake-affected areas.

A team was also deployed to its embassy in Kabul to coordinate efforts to deliver humanitarian aid. The Taliban welcomed India's decision to send back a technical team to continue humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, ANI reported.

USD 10 million was allocated by the UN from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF) to help the people of Afghanistan affected by this week's earthquake in the eastern part of the country.

The assistance of the UN comes at a time when many organizations around the world are supporting the people who have been severely damaged by the earthquake by paying large sums of money.