UAE sends relief aid to support Afghanistan quake victims

A plane carrying 30 tonnes of urgent food supplies was dispatched to Afghanistan on June 24 by the UAE.

This was sent as a relief assistance for the people affected by a powerful earthquake that struck Afghanistan on Wednesday, June 22.

According to state news agency WAM, at least 1,500 people were killed and over 2,000 injured in one of the deadliest tremors in decades.

The UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed ordered that an air bridge be established to provide relief.

The Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation and the Emirates Red Crescent, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, implemented the aid.

#UAE provides urgent aid to those affected by earthquake in #Afghanistan#WamNews https://t.co/qmfPNKkd3Y pic.twitter.com/iQhIBjmbPX

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) June 24, 2022

The 5.9 magnitude quake struck the central region of Afghanistan around 1.30 AM, local time, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported.

The earthquake registered at a depth of 10 km and was reportedly felt in neighbouring provinces including Kabul, as well as in Islamabad, Pakistan and India.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was saddened to learn about the tragic loss of life. “The United Nations in Afghanistan is fully mobilised. Our teams are already on the ground assessing the needs and providing initial support. We count on the international community to help support the hundreds of families hit by this latest disaster. Now is the time for solidarity,” he added.

? A 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Central Region of #Afghanistan early this morning impacting Paktika and Khost provinces.@UN & humanitarian actors are providing emergency assistance while search and rescue operations are ongoing.https://t.co/YngtIljbQC

?@UNICEFAfg pic.twitter.com/OFAvkwBOUf

— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) June 22, 2022

According to OCHA, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense is leading the emergency response efforts. Authorities have dispatched five helicopters, ambulances and a medical team to the affected provinces to facilitate evacuations.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that its teams were also supporting local health workers in saving lives and taking care of those affected by the disaster. The teams are supporting hospitals with medicines, mass casualty management and treatment.

Medicines & medical supplies continue to arrive in areas affected by the #earthquake in #Afghanistan. Emergency kits dispatched by @WHO have arrived in Urgon District Hospital for use in treating patients with multiple injuries and trauma. @RamizAlakbarov @OCHAAfg @unafghanistan pic.twitter.com/2HUXIKQ8lx

— WHO Afghanistan (@WHOAfghanistan) June 24, 2022

Paktia Reg’l Hosp is taking care of #patients injured from the #earthquake, many are women & children. 37 patients received trauma care & 5 critical patients were sent to Kabul hospitals. @WHO teams are working with hospital on mass casualty mgt, providing care & supplying meds. pic.twitter.com/lviX9DSgZP

— WHO Afghanistan (@WHOAfghanistan) June 23, 2022