Daily Evacuation Brief | June 23, 2022
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LAST 24 HOURS
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter near Khost is thought to have killed over 1,000 so far and injured at least 1,500 more. Rescues are ongoing, and the death toll is expected to increase.
Emergency management offices are completely overwhelmed. In addition to the earthquake occurring immediately on the heels of deadly flooding, the offices are not particularly well-staffed since the NATO withdrawal and the Taliban's emphasis on barring women from the workplace, are completely overwhelmed. The Ministry of Defense is assisting with response by sending some transportation assets but are hampered by geographic and demographic challenges.
Some local sources state the border crossing to Pakistan was closed for a short time after the earthquake but has been reopened and the Pakistani border police were waving people through.
A dispute arose at the Iran-Afghanistan border in Nimruz province that reportedly resulted in the death of an Afghan child and the detention of two Iranian border guards by Taliban security forces. Although we have not confirmed the incident took place, we have confirmed the main border crossing, the Silk Bridge, has been closed.
NEXT 24 HOURS
Rescue operations in Khost and other affected areas are expected to continue for the foreseeable future. The reallocation of Taliban equipment, personnel, and resources may benefit the Resistance forces fighting in Panjshir and the North.
Regional powers are expected to begin dispatching significant humanitarian assistance supplies to assist Afghanistan in coping with both the flooding and earthquake victims. Pakistan, Iran, China, and Turkey have all pledged unprecedented support.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
Timeline: Deadly earthquakes in Afghanistan
By al Jazeera
Hundreds of people have been killed in Afghanistan’s deadliest earthquake in some 20 years.
1991, Hindu Kush: An earthquake in the rugged Hindu Kush killed 848 people across Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Soviet Union.
1997, Qayen: A magnitude 7.2 earthquake on the border of Afghanistan and Iran killed more than 1,500 people in…
AFGHAN NEWS
Red Crescent Teams Respond to Afghanistan Earthquake
By The Red Crescent
A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck a remote and mountainous region of southeastern Afghanistan early…
Rescue, medical efforts hampered in wake of Afghan earthquake, videos show
By Pariesa Young – France 24
The bulk of rescue efforts have been attempted via helicopter, due to difficult road conditions and the remoteness of the affected…
'400' People Killed in Flooding Across Afghanistan: Officials
By TOLO News
At least 400 people have been killed in recent flooding across Afghanistan, the State Ministry of Natural Disaster Management said on…
REGIONAL NEWS
Over 250,000 Afghan asylum seekers arrived in Pakistan since January 2021: UNHCR
By Ariana News
Qaiser Khan Afridi, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Pakistan, has said that Pakistan is facing new…
Pakistan’s Negotiations With Terrorists
By Kunwar Khuldune Shahid – The Diplomat
Pakistan is reportedly set to send a 13-member delegation of Islamic clerics to continue negotiations with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with the…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
US works to scale up intelligence networks in Central Asia
By Karoun Demirjian – Stars and Stripes
Since U.S. troops left Afghanistan last August the Pentagon has been desperate to augment its "over-the-horizon" ability to track from afar and strike emerging terrorist threats — ideally with…
IEA welcomes UN decision to temporarily exempt sanctions on 13 officials
By Ariana News
In a statement issued by the ministry of foreign affairs, the IEA stated that it considers the lifting of sanctions as its right in line with the commitment made in the Doha…
THE DAILY WTF
Travel Exemptions Should Lift Permanently: MoF
By Bakhtar News Agency
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Foreign Ministry has hailed the extension of the travel exemption of 12 senior officials of the Islamic Emirate, and assumes that the…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 89.84 AFN (as of 23 JUN 2022)