Afghanistan Earthquake: An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale struck Faizabad in Afghanistan at around 2:07 am on Wednesday. It happened 89 km south of Faizabad at a depth of 200 km. There is no report of any casualty or damage to property so far.

Earlier, on June 22, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake had struck parts of Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, killing more than 1,000 people in Barmal and Gian districts of Paktika province and Spera district of Khost province. In addition, at least 1,455 people were injured in three of the six worst-affected districts of Barmal, Gyan and Spera – many of whom were severely affected. More than 10,000 houses were destroyed.

The United Nations (UN) has allocated USD 10 million from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF) to support the people of Afghanistan affected by the earthquake in the eastern part of the country. Bahrain’s Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF) had entered into an agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to distribute relief aid to support people in Afghanistan affected by the recent earthquake.

India gives aid to Afghanistan

India also handed over the first consignment of relief aid on June 23 to help Afghan civilians affected by the earthquake. The relief aid handed over by JP Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, included essential items including family ridge tents, sleeping bags, blankets, sleeping mats etc. to support the people of Afghanistan in the earthquake-hit areas.

India has also deployed a team at the Embassy in Kabul to coordinate the efforts of the stakeholders to provide humanitarian assistance.