BRUSSELS, Belgium, Sept 2, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The European Union said on 
Tuesday it was sending 130 tonnes of emergency supplies and unlocking one 
million euros to help victims of the deadly earthquake that hit Afghanistan.

More than 1,400 people are known to have been killed and thousands injured in 
the 6.0-magnitude earthquake, which hit remote areas in mountainous provinces 
near the border with Pakistan at around midnight on Sunday, followed by at 
least five aftershocks.

The United Nations has warned that the quake could impact "hundreds of 
thousands" and warned of an "exponential" rise in casualties.

The EU said that it was flying in the aid -- including tents, clothes and 
medical items -- on two special flights scheduled to arrive in Kabul this 
week.

The new aid comes on top of some 160 million euros ($185 million) in aid the 
EU has allocated to humanitarian organisations in Afghanistan this year.

After decades of conflict, Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the 
world.

It faces a protracted humanitarian crisis and the influx of millions of 
Afghans forced back to the country by neighbours Pakistan and Iran in recent 
years.

The EU has carefully calibrated its engagement with the country since the 
Taliban swept back into power in 2021 to avoid having too close ties to the 
authorities.