King Charles III condoles with Afghanistan quake victims as UN launches $139.6m appeal for survivors

King Charles has expressed his condolences to the people of Afghanistan following last week’s devastating earthquakes that killed more than 2,200 people in the eastern provinces of Kunar, Laghman and Nangarhar.

The UK’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay, shared the King’s message on X, in which he and Queen Camilla said they were saddened by the high number of casualties.

The King praised the resilience of the Afghan people and thanked humanitarian workers for their tireless efforts.

At the same time, the United Nations launched a four-month emergency response plan worth $139.6 million to support 457,000 people directly impacted.

Indrika Ratwatte, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, said the situation was urgent with winter approaching. He warned, “With each crisis that hits, there is a real danger that the fragile gains made in recent years will be reversed.”

More than 6,700 homes have been destroyed or damaged, leaving families without shelter, food, or access to clean water.

According to the de facto authorities, 3,600 people were injured in the tremors, which struck during the night, forcing thousands to flee into the open.

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has separately appealed for $22 million to reach 400,000 people, including 212,000 children. Dr Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s Representative in Afghanistan, said delivering aid was extremely complex due to remote terrain and conservative social norms, but stressed, “Much more is needed before the harsh winter sets in.”

Afghanistan is already one of the world’s most vulnerable countries, with the World Food Programme estimating that 15.8 million people face acute food insecurity. Humanitarian groups say the earthquake risks deepening this crisis.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had also appealed to the Taliban led government to lift the ban on female aid workers in a bid to ramp up rescue and recovery efforts in the regions affected by the earthquake.

The UN and its partners have begun distributing tents, blankets, food, and medical supplies, while also setting up safe spaces for women and children. Aid agencies warn that funding must be secured quickly to scale up operations in mountainous areas before temperatures fall further.

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