Following the earthquake that killed over 1,000 people and displaced others, Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership on Saturday urged Western nations to ease sanctions and lift a block on central bank assets.
The 6.1-magnitude earthquake that slammed the country’s east early Wednesday wrecked or damaged 10,000 homes and injured around 2,000 people, putting the country’s weak health system under strain and putting the governing Taliban to the test.
“The Islamic Emirate is requesting that the world provide Afghans their most fundamental right, which is the right to live, by easing sanctions, unfreezing our assets, and providing help,” Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi told Agencies in an interview.
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates all announced plans to deliver supplies on Thursday. Pakistani supplies have already crossed the border.
India, which has poor relations with the Taliban, said it had provided 27 tonnes of supplies on two aircraft to be distributed by international assistance organizations.