A cross-section of Afghans has expressed appreciation for the humanitarian assistance from the United Arab Emirates, including the delivery of relief supplies and the deployment of rescue teams to earthquake-hit regions in the south-eastern parts of the country.
Alam Gul, a resident of Chawkay district, described the horrors of the disaster: “It was just before midnight when the earthquake struck. We were all buried underneath. It felt like the Day of Judgment. We don’t have exact information about the number of dead; people are still being rescued and bodies are being recovered. People have nothing left — neither shelter nor food,” he said.
Gul Rahim, a resident of Dareh Diwagul, said that 80 people had died in his village. “The UAE has sent us aid materials. We know more is on the way. Our message to the world is that people are going through great hardship. They have no homes or other essentials of life. They need help,” he added.
A man who lost nine members of his family in the disaster said that tents were not enough for shelter as winter was approaching. “Our houses have collapsed. Everything we had is destroyed. If at least one room could be arranged for us to live in, it would help,” he pointed out.
Dr. Shafiullah Ahmadzai, Deputy Chief of Public Health in Kunar Province, expressed his gratitude to the UAE for its humanitarian support. “We hope that the UAE will continue to provide further assistance. Our country is poor and our people are suffering. The impact of the earthquakes remains catastrophic, and people are in urgent need of various forms of aid so they can return to a better and more normal life,” he said.