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Global sympathy and aid pledges pour in after deadly Afghanistan earthquake
The quake has once again highlighted Afghanistan’s vulnerability to natural disasters, with many rural families now left homeless and in urgent need of shelter, food, and medical assistance.
Countries around the world have expressed condolences and pledged support to Afghanistan after a powerful earthquake struck the eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar, leaving more than 800 people dead and thousands injured.
The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said Washington was “deeply saddened by the casualties and damages caused by the quake” and reaffirmed its solidarity with the Afghan people. Germany’s Foreign Ministry described the tragedy as “heartbreaking,” while Switzerland conveyed sympathy and pledged to deliver emergency aid to those affected.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, also expressed condolences and announced that humanitarian supplies and rescue teams would be dispatched to assist survivors in the disaster-hit areas.
Pope Leo XIV also expressed his sorrow following the disaster. In a message of condolence, sent on behalf of the pope by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, the message read that the pope was “deeply saddened by the significant loss of life caused by the earthquake in the area of eastern Afghanistan” and offered prayers “for the souls of the deceased, for the injured and for those still missing.”
“Entrusting all affected by this disaster to the providence of the Almighty, he expresses his heartfelt solidarity in particular with those who mourn the loss of loved ones and with the emergency personnel and civil authorities involved in rescue and recovery efforts,” Cardinal Parolin wrote.
The 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Kunar province on Sunday, flattening entire villages and damaging homes and infrastructure across the region. Rescuers are still struggling to reach remote mountain communities cut off by landslides, raising fears that the death toll could rise further.
The quake has once again highlighted Afghanistan’s vulnerability to natural disasters, with many rural families now left homeless and in urgent need of shelter, food, and medical assistance.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that security risks in Central Asia and developments in Afghanistan are among the primary concerns for the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
The CSTO is a regional military alliance that includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
Speaking in Moscow during a meeting with CSTO Secretary-General Taalatbek Masadykov, Lavrov described the region’s security challenges as “central” to the organization’s agenda.
“The problems that are currently among the central ones for the CSTO are new challenges and threats. I am referring to the situation in the Central Asian region of collective security, as well as everything related to what is happening in Afghanistan,” he said.
He praised Masadykov as “one of the leading experts” on Central Asian security, noting that his experience could enhance coordination and increase the effectiveness of allied actions.
Similar to NATO, the CSTO considers an attack on one member state as an attack on all.
Countries in the region have always expressed concern about security threats from Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has dismissed these concerns and assured that it will not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against another country.
The Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan has announced that the leader of the Islamic Emirate has approved the establishment of a faculty dedicated to “Prophetic Medicine.”
According to the ministry, this new faculty will play a vital role in advancing medical sciences and training skilled healthcare professionals across the country.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, Noorullah Noori, has announced that the long-delayed demarcation and renovation of border markers along the Afghanistan–Iran frontier will officially begin in the near future.
According to a statement from the ministry, Noori made the remarks during a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, Ali-Reza Bikdeli.
He assured the Iranian side that the Islamic Emirate is fully committed to accelerating the process and resolving any challenges that may arise during implementation.
In a separate statement, the Iranian Embassy in Kabul said Bikdeli underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation on border issues, describing it as a key factor in strengthening and expanding overall relations between the two countries.
Officials from both sides agreed nearly three months ago to resume the border-marker renovation project, which had remained stalled for the past seven years.
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