Taliban promise to build new homes for Afghan earthquake victims

Kabul [Afghanistan], October 11: The Taliban has promised new homes for the victims of the devastating earthquakes that shook western Afghanistan over the weekend.
The deputy prime minister of economic affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, made the pledge during his visit to the disaster zone, according to a statement released by a provincial government on Tuesday.
Baradar said that all government officials have been instructed to distribute the donations collected in the country to survivors in need, the statement added.
Baradar was said to have met with local officials, businessmen, community representatives and health workers.
The Taliban have been back in power in Afghanistan for more than two years.
On Saturday, several earthquakes hit Afghanistan's western province of Herat, completely flattening at least 20 villages.
The 6.3-magnitude tremors killed around 2,400 people and wounded thousands of others, according to the latest figures by the Taliban-run government.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spoke of more than 1,000 dead. More than 11,000 people have been affected, according to the UN.
Most search-and-rescue operations have wound down. Resident of the region remain in a state of deep shock, spending most of their time outside in fear of aftershocks. The US Geological Survey has recorded nine tremors since the weekend.
On Monday Germany promised $5.3mn support following the devastating earthquakes in Afghanistan.
The money would be provided through the humanitarian fund for Afghanistan to support activities of aid organizations such as Caritas, Save the Children, World Vision, but also the humanitarian work of the UN authorities in the country, the German Foreign Office said.
Source: Qatar Tribune