By: Andruw Lin

A recent disastrous earthquake has left many dead and injured in Geyan District in southeastern Afghanistan. For those who survived, many of their houses were destroyed by the earthquake, resulting in them spending nights in the rain or sometimes even snow. People all over the world are questioning whether the Taliban government can be able to coordinate this massive effort to help the impoverished area.

“I am too sad for us all. We either have to wait for aid to rebuild our house, or we’ll be displaced and have to leave everything that’s destroyed here,” says Ali Mohammad, a resident of the village of Azor Kalai in Geyan District. The residents were poor prior to this tragedy, and with everything now destroyed, they have no choice but to leave if they do not receive aid to rebuild the homes they’ve lost.

In the roads leading to Geyan, there are many signs of support coming from international organizations and local aid groups, however, the remoteness of Geyan offers a huge challenge for support groups. The steep mountainsides and treacherous downhill slopes are making it very challenging for help to reach Geyan, and supplies are lost on the way there.

This event also poses a new challenge for the Biden administration. They have refused to recognize the Taliban government or provide them any assistance; however, they have been aiding the international and local organizations that are helping the Afghan people in need. The U.S. does not want to give money and supplies directly to the Taliban because they are afraid that they will use the money to support terrorist organizations instead of the people in need. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said the U.S. has “been looking very hard at ways to do that that are not a direct benefit to the Taliban, but that can bring benefits to the people.”

Many countries such as the US and international organizations such as the World Health Organization have been shipping supplies and providing funds for people living in the area. UN aid teams are in Afghanistan and providing support to survivors, and the World Health organization said that a shipment of 10 tons of medical supplies was on its way to Afghanistan.

Link to article: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/06/23/world/afghanistan-earthquake#the-quake-will-test-bidens-refusal-to-avoid-direct-aid-to-the-taliban