Afghanistan Quake Kills 1,000 People, Deadliest in Decades
SnopesDec 30, 2021
The Facts
Aid has started to arrive to Afghanistan following Wed. night's 6.1-magnitude earthquake that left at least 1K people dead, 1.5k injured, and more than 3K homes destroyed.
Spokesperson for the disaster ministry, Mohammad Nassim Haqqani, reported that rescue operations have finished in major districts, but continue in some remote areas.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Decades of conflict have left Afghanistan impoverished and unable to improve resilience for deadly earthquakes. There is real concern that the people in the hardest-hit areas have lost what little resources they had before this disaster. Even prior to the Taliban gaining control of the country, Afghanistan's emergency services were overwhelmed with few resources - showing the toll of endless wars. The international community has a moral obligation to step up.
Pro-establishment narrative
The United Nations and the international aid community are trying the best they can in Afghanistan, but they are stretched thin and have been unable to raise enough funds. This earthquake adds to the list of needs that already has international organizations battling factors including chronic malnutrition, unemployment, and the worst drought the area has seen in 37 years. Global institutions are trying to persevere in the face of these shocks and stressors.