VATICAN (CNS/Agencies): Pope Francis offered prayers for victims of a strong earthquake that hit a remote, mountainous area of Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan.
At least 1,000 people were dead—the death toll was expected to increase—and more than 1,500 people were injured in the quake, which hit just over 160 kilometres southeast of Kabul.
At the end of his general audience on June 22, Pope Francis said: “In the past few hours, an earthquake has claimed victims and caused extensive damage in Afghanistan. I express my sympathy to the injured and those affected by the earthquake, and I pray in particular for those who have lost their lives and for their families. I hope that with everyone’s help, the suffering of the dear Afghan people can be alleviated.”
The Associated Press that reported the disaster posed a major test for Afghanistan’s Taliban government, which seized power last August. Many international aid agencies left after the Taliban takeover.
Catholic Relief Services, still has a presence there though agency could not be reached, but disaster response is one of three target areas listed on the CRS website as the agency’s focus in the country.
Afghanistan is already in the middle of a humanitarian and economic crisis and the BBC reported that the earthquake is proving to be a major challenge to the governing Taliban.
Qahar Balkhi, a senior Taliban official, said the government was “financially unable to assist the people to the extent that is needed”.
He said that aid agencies, neighbouring countries and world powers were helping, but added: “The assistance needs to be scaled up to a very large extent because this is a devastating earthquake which hasn’t been experienced in decades.”
