A committee was established to assess the damages of the recent earthquake in Balkh Province

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) – Mazar-e-Sharif: Maulavi Mohammadullah Zarar, Head of Information and Culture of Balkh Province, stated in an interview with AVA reporter: “The committee to assess the damages of the earthquake was established under the guidance of the governor of Balkh and is responsible for examining the situation of the families of the martyrs and the injured, cooperating with them and helping them. This committee is also obliged to reopen the blocked roads as soon as possible and begin the removal of debris from the destroyed houses.”

 

He added that officials of the local government of Balkh Province are determined to cooperate fully with the earthquake victims and efforts are continuing to provide accurate information about the extent of the damages.

 

On the other hand, Attaullah Zaid, spokesman for the governor of Balkh province, told Ava: “A plan to support the earthquake victims has been prepared and all relief teams have cooperated with the victims at the appropriate time. Efforts are currently underway to provide shelter to families whose homes have been destroyed. A plan to rebuild the Holy Shrine, the shrine of Imam Ali (AS), has also been launched.”

 

According to Zaid, 12 people have died and more than 400 others have been injured in the recent earthquake; although this figure is not final and definitive.

 

Meanwhile, a number of Mazar-e-Sharif citizens say that the amount of human and financial losses from the earthquake is higher than the figures announced a few days ago and they are asking local officials to do their utmost to support the affected families and not leave them alone in difficult circumstances.

 

The earthquake in the Marmal and Sholgara districts of Balkh province has also caused large landslides and the destruction of dozens of houses. Relief teams from the National Army and other government agencies have been dispatched and deployed to the most affected areas.