Senior Taliban officials visit villages struck by earthquake that killed at least 2,000 people

A senior Taliban delegation was visiting western Afghanistan’s Herat province on Monday in aftermath of powerful earthquake that killed at least 2,000 people over weekend and flattened entire villages, a statement said.

Saturday’s magnitude 6.3 quake hit a densely populated area in Herat and was followed by strong aftershocks in what was one of deliest temblors to strike country in two deces.

Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Abdul Ghani Barar, and his team will visit quake-affected region on Monday to deliver “immediate relief assistance” and ensure “equitable and accurate distribution of aid,” according to a statement from capital, Kabul.

quake also trapped hundreds and people have been digging with ir bare hands and shovels to pull victims — both de and alive — from under rubble. Authorities said Monday y were still waiting for an update on latest casualties form Herat.

U.S. Geological Survey said quake’s epicenter was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of city of Herat, provincial capital. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks.

A global response to Afghanistan quake has been slow, with much of world wary of dealing directly with Taliban government and focused on dely escalation between Israel and Palestinians in aftermath of surprise attack by Gaza militants on Saturday that has left more than 1,100 de in fighting so far and thousands wounded on both sides.

Aid agencies and nongovernmental groups have appealed for international community to come forward but only a handful of countries have publicly offered support, including neighboring China and Pakistan.

Aid group CARE USA — a member of CARE International umbrella — said in a statement that quake struck at a time when Afghanistan was alrey facing a severe humanitarian crisis that was significantly under-funded while needs are increasing rapidly.

fast-approaching winter, combined with this new disaster, is likely to exacerbate existing challenges and make it even more difficult for people to meet ir basic needs, like equate shelter, food, and medicine, it said.

“CARE is deeply sdened by devastating earthquake that struck western province of Herat,” said Reshma Azmi, group’s deputy director for Afghanistan. “This comes less than seven months after anor powerful earthquake hit country, leaving thousands homeless and displaced.”

Azimi was referring to magnitude 6.5 earthquake in March that struck much of Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan. Also, an earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan in June 2022, striking a rugged, mountainous region, wiped out stone and mud-brick homes and killed at least 1,000 people.

“ situation is worse than we imagined with people in devastated villages still desperately trying to rescue survivors from under rubble with ir bare hands,” said World Vision, a global charity.

Reinforcements from Kabul arrived on Sunday but area of quake has only one government-run hospital.

“Our colleagues and ir families are processing this devastation in ir hometowns, and yet we are responding with everything we have,” said Thamindri de Silva, he of Afghanistan office of charity. “People need urgent medical care, water, food, shelter and help to stay safe. Please stand with us as we respond.”

Dozens of teams have scrambled to help with rescue efforts, including from military and nonprofit groups. Irfanullah Sharafzai, a spokesman for Afghan Red Crescent Society, said more than 20 teams were on ground on Monday and have set up a temporary camp for displaced.

In neighboring Pakistan, government held a special session to review aid for Afghanistan, including relief teams, food items and medicines, as well as tents and blankets.