Photo taken on June 22, 2022 shows ambulances on the road in Paktika province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
The United Nations in Afghanistan is fully mobilized, and UN teams are already on the ground assessing the needs and providing initial support, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
UNITED NATIONS, June 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that he was saddened by the tragic loss of life in the earthquake that struck Afghanistan earlier in the day.
"Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed and injured, and this tragic toll might continue to rise," he said in a statement.
"My heart goes out to the people of Afghanistan who are already reeling from the impact of years of conflict, economic hardship and hunger. I convey my deep condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," he said.
The United Nations in Afghanistan is fully mobilized, and UN teams are already on the ground assessing the needs and providing initial support, he said.
"We count on the international community to help support the hundreds of families hit by this latest disaster. Now is the time for solidarity," Guterres said.
An earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan early Wednesday, and the death toll has surpassed 1,000, with more than 1,500 people injured, news reports said. ■
