How aid has just trickled into quake-hit Afghanistan

(Reuters) -Afghanistan’s Taliban government has appealed for help from the world after more than 1,100 people were killed in one of the deadliest earthquakes to hit the impoverished nation in recent years, saying it needs urgent aid.

But relief has been hard to come by to a country largely ignored by the world since the 2021 Taliban takeover. Here is a list of aid provided and promised in the wake of the disaster:

UNICEF

UNICEF said it was sending medicines, warm clothing, tents and tarpaulins for shelter, and soap, detergent, towels, sanitary pads, and water buckets.

BRITAIN

Britain set out emergency funding support of 1 million pounds ($1.35 million) saying it would ensure that the aid does not go to the Taliban by channelling it through its partners.

Britain’s assistance will be split between the United Nations Population Fund and the International Red Cross to deliver critical healthcare and emergency supplies.

INDIA

India said it had delivered 1,000 family tents to Kabul and was moving 15 tonnes of food material to Kunar, with more relief material to be sent starting on Tuesday.

India stood in solidarity with Afghanistan and is ready to provide all possible humanitarian aid and relief to those affected, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

UAE

The United Arab Emirates has dispatched a special rescue team along with an emergency humanitarian aid package to assist the affected, Afghanistan’s state-run Bakhter News agency said.

EU

The EU said that its humanitarian partners are already on the ground, working to provide essential assistance to the communities in need, Bakhter News said.

THE UNITED STATES

The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs posted its condolences on X on Monday for the loss of life in the earthquake but did not immediately respond when asked if Washington would provide assistance.

CHINA

A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said that Beijing was ready to provide disaster relief assistance “according to Afghanistan’s needs and within its capacity”.

PAKISTAN

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences to the families of the dead, and said Pakistan stood ready to extend “all possible support”.

JAPAN

“Japan expresses solidarity with the people of Afghanistan. We will continue our efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in the country,” the country’s top government spokesperson said.

IRAN

Iran said it is fully prepared to provide emergency assistance, including medical treatment and other forms of support that will be dispatched swiftly, Bakhter News said.

(Compiled by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by YP Rajesh and Kim Coghill)

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