HomeUnited NationsUN agencies rush to aid Afghanistan following deadly quake

UN agencies rush to aid Afghanistan following deadly quake

OCHA is coordinating the emergency response on behalf of UN agencies and humanitarian partners, and teams have deployed to the two provinces. 

Four districts in Paktika province – Gayan, Barmala, Naka and Ziruk – as well as Spera district in Khost province, have been affected. 
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)  has dispatched several mobile health and nutrition teams to provide first aid to the injured. 
Dr. Mohamed Ayoya, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, reported that staff are also distributing critical aid, including kitchen equipment; hygiene supplies such as soap, detergent, towels and sanitary pads, as well as warm clothes, shoes, blankets, tents and tarpaulins. 

Aid priorities 

“We stand in solidarity with the children and families affected during this difficult time.” 
At least 1,000 people have been killed, according to media reports, and numbers are expected to rise.   
The earthquake registered at a depth of 10 km, OCHA said, and was reportedly felt in neighbouring provinces including Kabul, home to the country’s capital, as well as in Islamabad, Pakistan, and India. 
.@UNICEF has dispatched several mobile health and nutrition teams to the area to provide first aid to those injured. Emergency supplies are on their way as well. pic.twitter.com/0wAzGOsAew
UN humanitarian agency OCHA said the 5.9 magnitude quake struck the Central Region of Afghanistan around 1.30 AM, local time. 
Immediate needs include emergency trauma care, emergency shelter and non-food items, food assistance, and support for water and sanitation. 
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense is leading response efforts, OCHA said, and has dispatched five helicopters to Paktika province to facilitate medical evacuations.  A medical team was also sent to Gayan district, reportedly the worst affected.  

More to follow on this developing story… 

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