On Friday, the US President Barack Obama offered his condolences to the victims of northern Badakhshan landslides that killed more than 2,500 people.
“On behalf of the American people, our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan, who have experienced an awful tragedy,” Obama said, quoted by the US Embassy in Kabul on its Twitter page.
“Even as our war there comes to an end this year, our commitment to Afghanistan and its people will endure.” he said. “We stand ready to help our Afghan partners as they respond to this disaster.”
This tragic calamity has attracted the attention of many worldwide, sending their sympathies to the thousands killed in Badakhshan.
Mark Bowden, coordinator in Afghanistan for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), expressed their grievances for the innocent lives lost in the landslide.
“On behalf of the UN humanitarian agencies, I wish to extend our condolences to all those families who have lost loved ones as result of these landslides,” he stated. “There have now been more Afghans killed through natural disasters in the past seven days than all of 2013.”
Mr. Bowden added that, “the UN system is fully engaged in the ongoing effort and is mobilizing more capacity and resources to bolster the response.”
Meanwhile, India’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, expressed his shock and sympathies to the lives claimed by the landslide, in a press release.
“I am deeply shocked and saddened by the devastating natural disaster that has struck Badakhshan province in Afghanistan,” he said in his statement in Delhi. “The people of India stand with their Afghan friends in grieving for those who have perished or are missing.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this hour of pain and sorrow,” PM Singh said. “We know that the Afghan people will face up to this tragedy with their unmatched courage and fortitude. India stands ready to provide whatever assistance and support that we can for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts to help the victims of this enormous disaster.”
Pakistan Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, addressed the terrible catastrophe in a press release offering his condolences “over the loss of precious lives and widespread damage caused by the landslide.”
PM Sharif “reassured that the people of Pakistan stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their Afghan brethren as they brave this tragic natural disaster.”
President Hamid Karzai was deeply saddened by the death of the people in the province and instructed for immediate provision of first aid to those affected.
The presidential candidates of Afghanistan expressed their sympathies to the victims and their families.
Leading presidential candidate, Abdullah Abdullah, announced at a joint press conference with Gul Agha Sherzai that “the businessmen and international communities must help the people as soon as possible.”
Presidential candidate Daoud Sultanzoy expressed his grievances to the people of Badakhshan and criticized president Karzai for the poor response to the tragedy.
“Karzai should have taken off his coat and qara qul—traditional cap made of sheep skin—and visited the survivors and helped in the affected area, instead of sitting in the Presidential palace,” Sultanzoy exclaimed.
The people from across Afghanistan have also criticized the government’s lack of sending aid in a judicious manner.
“I request the government to be more considerate of its people,” Kabul resident, Dur Mohammad, told TOLOnews. “When an Afghan dies, a member of the government dies.”
Another resident from Kunar said, “It’s inexcusable that the government has not worked in favor of the people.”
According to the Governor of Badakhshan, Shah Waliwallah Adib, more than 2,500 people have been killed and more than 300 homes are buried and trapped under rocks and mud due to a landslide in northern Badakhshan province on Friday afternoon.
So far, only eight people have been rescued.
The incident took place in Argo district of the province when a number of the people were rescuing those already trapped in an earlier landslide, when suddenly a mixture of rocks and mud began falling causing another landslide killing more than 2,500 people, Adib said.
Adib said that they have warned 700 other homes to evacuate because of the unsettled mud and rock-fall.
An instructor of the Argo police headquarter, Qari Sayfuddin, added that more than 1,500 livestock were also killed in the incident.
A number of the people have arrived at the area to rescue the people.
tolonews
Tags: Condolences, Offered, worldwide
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