June 23, 2022
No. 154
A powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Khost, a city in southeastern Afghanistan, on June 22, killing at least 1,000 people and injuring thousands more. The disaster has caused significant devastation and severely impacted the lives of people in the area. According to information obtained by Taiwan's overseas missions, no Taiwanese nationals have been stranded in the region. The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) expresses profound sorrow at the tragic loss of life and extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved.
When people are in need, the spirit of humanitarianism transcends all borders. In response to the Afghan government's appeal for international assistance and calls for humanitarian relief by the United Nations and the international community, the Taiwanese government has decided to promptly donate US$1 million in disaster relief. Taiwan sincerely hopes that recovery efforts in disaster-stricken areas commence as soon as possible, and that affected citizens will be able to rebuild their homes without delay.
Taiwan also explored the possibility of rapidly dispatching a rescue team to Afghanistan. However, after professional consultations with partner countries and taking into consideration such factors as local building structures, the nature of the disaster, and the difficulty of accessing the stricken area, Taiwan decided against sending a mission at this time and will instead focus on providing relief to those affected.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed the relevant overseas missions to continue to monitor rescue efforts in the disaster area. The government of Taiwan will proactively work with international partners to assist the victims of disaster in Afghanistan, demonstrating Taiwan's sincere humanitarian concern and fostering a positive circle of international goodwill. (E)