Saudi Arabia Distributes New Aid to Earthquake Survivors in Northern Afghanistan

The Saudi Arabian Embassy in Kabul announced on Wednesday, November 18, that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has distributed a new round of humanitarian assistance in Balkh province. According to the embassy, the aid included 300 food baskets and 300 cartons of dates provided to families affected by the earthquake.

According to the statement, this assistance is part of a project titled “Emergency Response to Support Earthquake Victims,” which was delivered to those in need in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in cooperation with the Afghan Red Crescent Society.

In recent months, the King Salman Center has provided several phases of aid to earthquake victims in the eastern and northern regions of the country. Officials from the center have stated that the aid deliveries will continue due to concerns over the harsh winter and the influx of returnees from neighboring countries.

Despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the north, the Taliban administration has not only failed to fully address the basic needs of those affected but has also imposed restrictions on the operations of international organizations and charitable institutions. Local residents in these affected areas continue to complain about the lack of sufficient support from the ruling authorities, and the recurring dependence on foreign donor countries further highlights the structural weaknesses and inefficiencies of the Taliban government in responding to national crises.