Afghan troops unload relief supplies hours after an earthquake hit the Sherzad district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan April 17.
KABUL, Afghanistan (April 18) – Afghan National Security Forces in conjunction with International Security Assistance Force soldiers provided aid to earthquake victims in Sherzad District, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan Friday.
The earthquake, which was reported at 5.5 on the Richter scale, hit at about 4 a.m. Local officials report that 19 people died, 51 were injured and more than 290 families, estimated at 3,000 people, were effected across a total of seven villages. The most damage was reported in Sherzad District.
ISAF’s Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team sent a 5-ton truck with relief supplies such as blankets, tents, food and water to the village. The team had difficulty reaching the site because of the remote location of the most seriously affected area.
Afghan officials were already on scene and had already begun evacuating the injured.
Upon the PRT’s arrival, ISAF troops provided medical assistance to victims, while local officials, elders and Afghan National Army troops distributed supplies.
ISAF’s support is part of a joint Afghan government and United Nations response to the disaster.
ISAF is prepared to provide additional support if requested by the Afghan government.