The United Kingdom has announced £1 million in emergency aid for Afghanistan following a powerful earthquake that has killed more than 800 people and injured at least 2,800 others.
The funding will be directed through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to ensure that essential medical care and supplies reach the worst-affected communities.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the aid package was aimed at helping Afghans in urgent need while ensuring funds do not fall into the hands of the Taliban administration.
“The UK remains committed to the people of Afghanistan, and this emergency funding will help our partners deliver critical healthcare and emergency supplies to the most hard-hit,” Lammy said in a statement.
One of Afghanistan’s worst disasters
The earthquake, which struck on Sunday, has been described as one of the deadliest in Afghanistan’s recent history. Rescue operations are ongoing, but limited resources and international aid cuts have hindered response efforts.
Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis has deepened over the past two years as global funding has shrunk, particularly following U.S.-led aid reductions. The latest disaster has added pressure on already fragile health and relief systems.
