Survivors of the recent earthquake in Afghanistan dug by hand after a powerful calamity hit the country and killed at least 1,000 people.
While the Afghans dug by hand on Thursday through villages in the eastern part of the country, the Taliban and the international community reportedly fled their takeover and struggled to aid the disaster’s victims.
Villagers residing in Paktika province’s hard-hit Gayan district stood atop the mud bricks as others carefully walked through dirt alleyways while gripping onto damaged walls.
According to the report released by a state-run news agency, the recent earthquake was Afghanistan’s deadliest in two decades with an estimated 1,500 others injured.
The destruction came amid the problems the country is currently facing as millions of Afghans have been facing an increasing hunger and poverty.
The health system has also been crumbling after the Taliban retook power amid the NATO and the United States withdrawal almost 10 months ago.
Amid the current crisis, many are wondering whether the Taliban would allow other countries to offer aid while the country’s rescuers dug through rubble with their bare hands without heavy equipment.
“We ask from the Islamic Emirate and the whole country to come forward and help us. We are with nothing and have nothing, not even a tent to live in.” a survivor who gave his name as Hakimullah, said.
Rescuers and survivors are also having a hard time checking the villages that were affected by the disaster as roads are rutted and badly damaged which makes them difficult to travel in the best of circumstances.
Moreover, reports also revealed that rescuers rushed in by helicopters. However, relief efforts could be hindered by the Taliban since most governments are wary of dealing directly with the Taliban.
In a statement released by Ramiz Alakbarov, the U.N. deputy special representative to Afghanistan, he revealed that “the Taliban had not formally requested that the U.N. mobilize international search-and-rescue teams or obtain equipment from neighboring countries to supplement the few dozen ambulances and several helicopters sent in by Afghan authorities,” according to the New York Post.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced that two planes of humanitarian aid from Iran and another from Qatar had arrived in the country. He also added that eight trucks of food and other necessities from Pakistan arrived in Paktika.
