UN Warned of the Food Shortage in Afghanistan

KABUL: The recent earthquake in Afghanistan was very severe. The quake caused more casualties and injured a lot of people. The United Nations said that the food aid in the region is running short. It pleads for more aid to continue the people-saving operation in the quake.

The UN warning to halt the deportation of Afghan refugees:

On Wednesday, Afghanistan airdropped commandos to the affected areas so the people lying under the rubble could be saved. In an estimate, more than 1,400 people lost their lives. The United Nations agency has issued a warning that the food aid in these areas is running short. It asks for more aid for the affected people.

The United Nations also told Pakistan to stop its deportation of Afghan refugees. Since 2023, Pakistan has continued the operation of evacuating Afghan refugees from the country for the sake of security reasons.

In a recent earthquake, the majority of the border-linked villages were destroyed. The people living there were mainly those who had come there after being deported from Pakistan. 

Since 2023, more than 1.2 million Afghan refugees have been forced to leave Pakistan. At the Chaman border, a local administrator told the reporters that, “More than 4,000 people have left ever since the deadline ended.”

Migrant registration official Abdul Latif Hakimi on the Afghan side said that since August 31, every day, almost 250-300 families are returning. The United Nations has strictly warned Pakistan to halt the deportation of Afghan refugees in the moment of crisis.

Also Read: Huge Loss of Lives in Afghanistan Earthquake of Magnitude 6.0

Rescue operation is continuing:

The rescue operation is at its peak. Rescuers are trying their level best to ensure the safety of the affected people. At the sites where the helicopters cannot land, dozens of commandos are airdropped there through helicopters. These commandos are working to escape the entangled Afghan people under rubble.

The head of WFP in Afghanistan, John Aylieff, said that the aid is getting short and it will last for only 4 weeks from now. He is seeking more aid so the survivors of the quake remain stable. 

Aylieff said, “Four weeks is just not enough even to meet the basic, essential needs of the population struck by the earthquake, let alone put the victims on a path back to rebuilding their lives.”

According to the Taliban government, 1,457 people lost their lives, leaving 3,394 people injured. It is also reported that 6,700 homes were destroyed. The United Nations predicted that the death toll could rise as people are still stuck under rubble. 

Houses are brutally damaged:

Kunar was affected badly due to the earthquake in Afghanistan. Entire houses were wiped out in Kunar. People are carrying the bodies of their loved ones on stretchers. Aftershocks caused rockfall. People are staying outside their houses due to the fear of the remains of the damaged houses collapsing on them.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that the houses made of dry masonry, stone, and timber are not enough to provide enough support to the houses in harsh conditions like torrential rains and earthquakes.