Earthquake-Affected Families in Kunar Denounce Unequal Aid Distribution
In Kunar province, eastern Afghanistan, families affected by recent earthquakes have criticized the unequal distribution of humanitarian aid, saying that aid intended for victims does not reach them due to interference by local Taliban officials.
Obaidullah, a resident of Chawkai district who lost four family members in the recent earthquake, said that cash and other aid provided by humanitarian organizations are distributed unfairly, and many families are deprived of assistance.
He said: “Countries have provided aid to Kunar according to their capacity, but many families are still left out because the Taliban divert aid among themselves or distribute it to their supporters.”
Noor Ahmad, from the “Mazar Dara” area of Nurgal district, also highlighted the injustice in aid distribution. He said that although substantial cash and food aid has been sent to earthquake victims in Kunar by foreign countries, many victims still lack shelter, clean water, food, and basic necessities.
He added that hundreds of families, including his own, were forced to leave their destroyed homes and move to Asadabad city due to successive earthquakes. These families struggle not only with shelter but also lack food and access to clean drinking water.
He cited Taliban interference in aid distribution and restrictions on female workers in affected areas as key reasons why many families are deprived of humanitarian assistance.
He explained: “Some cash and food aid is hidden or diverted by the Taliban, and many households are headed by women who are not allowed to collect aid, leaving them without necessary support.”
Women affected by the earthquake in Kunar also expressed concern over the unequal distribution of aid. Some of them, who are the heads of their households, have not received any assistance for several days, which has exacerbated their hardships.
Rubina, a resident of Dewai Gul Dara, whose home was completely destroyed in recent earthquakes and who lost three family members including her husband, said aid meant for earthquake victims has not been distributed to them.
She, who is injured in one hand, has been living under the open sky for several days and is pleading for shelter and food assistance.
She said: “In the earthquake, my husband and two sons died. I survived with my two other children, now living in a tent with a relative. We have received no aid. Many women here are deprived of assistance because the Taliban ignore them. We need food, tents, and medicine.”
She added that some charitable organizations and Taliban officials come to take photos of victims for social media under the pretext of aid, but they have not actually supported the affected families.
According to reports, the deadly earthquake last week in Kunar province killed 2,205 people, including women and children, and injured 3,640 others, while approximately 7,000 residential houses were partially or completely destroyed.
So far, humanitarian aid in the form of cash and food worth more than $38.3 million has been provided to affected families by various countries.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that Taliban interference in aid distribution has increased, with 164 cases of interference recorded, causing 72 projects to be delayed and two projects completely halted.
