Hours after a catastrophic landslide that hit the north-east Afghan province of Badakhshan, India has underlined its solidarity with the Afghan people and offered to help in rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts to help the victims of this enormous disaster.
Over 2000 people have been killed and hundreds are reported missing missing after a portion of a mountain collapsed following torrential rain May 2.
“The number of deceased has increased to 350 and significant displacement is expected,” said the UN mission in Afghanistan. “The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is helping… local authorities to rescue those still trapped.”
India, a leading donor and strategic partner of Afghanistan, has expressed shock and sadness at the carnage unleashed by this devastating natural disaster. “The people of India stand with their Afghan friends in grieving for those who have perished or are missing,” said India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this hour of pain and sorrow. We know that the Afghan people will face up to this tragedy with their unmatched courage and fortitude,” he said.
“India stands ready to provide whatever assistance and support that we can for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts to help the victims of this enormous disaster.”
India has pledged over $2 billion for the reconstruction of Afghanistan and thousands of Indians have been involved in multifarious reconstruction activities, including building the Afghan parliament, roads, dams, erecting power transmission lines, digging tubewells and running sanitation projects.
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