Ireland sending €500,000 for Afghanistan earthquake relief

Tánaiste Simon Harris. File picture: Brian Lawless/PA

The Irish Government will send €500,000 to support humanitarian relief efforts in Afghanistan after Sunday’s devastating earthquake.

More than 1,000 people died and thousands more were injured when the magnitude 6.0 quake struck close to the border with Pakistan.

Ireland will contribute €500,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support emergency food, water, healthcare and other humanitarian aid for survivors.

Announcing the funding, Tánaiste Simon Harris said: “This earthquake has caused utter devastation.

“The relief operation is going to be very challenging given the mountainous and remote make-up of the area. Landslides and road blockages mean it will take some time to reach people affected.

“There is an urgent need for the international community to assist efforts to get aid to people as quickly as possible. This funding from Ireland will provide basic but life-saving aid to people who have lost everything.”

Ireland has also provided €3m to the UN-managed Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, and an additional €1m to the UNHCR Afghanistan Refugee Regional Response to support refugees and host communities in neighbouring states.

The IFRC has received close to €10m in funding for a number of crises.