Over 1,000 Dead In Afghanistan Earthquake As Aid Struggles To Reach Remote Villages

"More than 1,000 people are reported dead and thousands of others injured as aid workers continue to battle to get to a remote mountainous region of Afghanistan following a devastating earthquake that flattened villages. The Afghan Red Crescent Society said on September 2, two days after the 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck near the city of Jalalabad close to the Pakistan border, that the death tolled had surpassed 1,100. Earlier in the day, Taliban authorities reported at least 900 people dead."

"Amnesty International has put out a call for "urgent humanitarian aid," but the London-based rights organization also blasted the Taliban for making rescue operations more difficult. It also assailed Pakistan for its forced repatriation of nearly 2 million Afghan refugees, saying it exasperated the woes. "The Taliban de-facto authorities have also been responsible for the shrinking of operations of humanitarian and aid agencies in the country due to restrictive policies and a ban on Afghan women working for the UN as well as other NGOs in Afghanistan. This is part of the Taliban's systematic attack on human rights in the country," Amnesty said in a statement."

""We cannot accurately predict how many bodies might still be trapped under the rubble," said Ehsanullah Ehsan, the provincial head of disaster management. "Our effort is to complete these operations as soon as possible and to begin distributing aid to the affected families.""

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck near Jalalabad close to the Pakistan border and flattened villages in a remote mountainous region of Afghanistan. More than 1,100 people have been reported dead and thousands injured, with earlier Taliban counts at least 900 dead. Aid workers are struggling to reach the affected areas and assess how many bodies remain trapped under rubble. Provincial disaster officials say efforts focus on completing rescue operations and beginning aid distribution. Amnesty International called for urgent humanitarian assistance and criticized Taliban restrictions and Pakistan's forced repatriations. UN agencies are coordinating to assess needs and provide emergency help.

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