Afghanistan Earthquake Kills 1,400

A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, resulting in over 1,400 deaths and more than 3,000 injuries, primarily in Kunar province. The earthquake flattened villages, trapping residents under rubble, and rough terrain is hampering rescue efforts. The Taliban government has appealed for international assistance, but help is in short supply due to competing global crises, reduced aid budgets in donor countries, and opposition to the Taliban's restrictive policies on Afghan girls and women. The United Nations and its officials, including Indrika Ratwatte and Kate Carey, have warned of an exponential rise in casualties and highlighted the dire state of Afghanistan's healthcare infrastructure due to funding cuts. This is the third major earthquake since the Taliban seized power in 2021, adding to Afghanistan's ongoing crises of a weak economy and millions of forcibly returned citizens from Iran and Pakistan. Countries like the United Kingdom, European Union, United Arab Emirates, India, and China have pledged some disaster relief, but the United States had previously cut aid due to concerns about funds reaching the Taliban.