Over 700 families have been displaced in Badakshan, Afghanistan
Kabul:
Over 2,000 people have been killed in the landslides that hit Badakshan in north-eastern Afghanistan on Friday.
Earlier, Governor Shah Adeeb had said that over 2,000 people had gone missing in the aftermath of the landslides, while the United Nations had estimated that at least 350 people had been killed in the remote region.
Nazifullah Salarzai, the UN's spokesperson in Afghanistan, told NDTV that details about the landslides and the death toll would get clearer only later in the day.
He added the UN was coordinating with agencies on the ground and focussing on helping over 700 families which had been displaced by the natural calamity.
Nearly 4,000 people, he said, were currently being forced to live without food, water or shelter in near freezing temperatures.
The Afghanistan Army and police are helping in rescue and rehabilitation efforts, but they have been hampered by the layers of mud which have completely buried parts of the village of Hobo Barik in the north-eastern province of Badakshan.
The rescue efforts have also been hampered by the lack of heavy earth-moving equipment in the region, which borders Pakistan, Tajikistan and China.
Latest reports suggested only one excavator had reached the area because of its poor connectivity.
Local leaders have reportedly suggested that the whole area be treated as a mass grave because the chances of finding survivors from beneath the layers of mud were unlikely.
The first landslide had hit on Friday, while a wedding was being held in the village. Another landslide, described by the governor as part of a hill collapsing, hit soon after, even as rescuers rushed to the area.
Rescuers have also warned about the possibility of more landslides due to torrential rains in the area.
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has sent a high-level delegation, headed by Vice President Mohammad Khalili, to supervise rescue and relief operations.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also issued a statement, saying, "India stands ready to provide whatever assistance and support that we can for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts to help the victims of this enormous disaster.'
Earlier, Governor Shah Adeeb had said that over 2,000 people had gone missing in the aftermath of the landslides, while the United Nations had estimated that at least 350 people had been killed in the remote region.
Nazifullah Salarzai, the UN's spokesperson in Afghanistan, told NDTV that details about the landslides and the death toll would get clearer only later in the day.
He added the UN was coordinating with agencies on the ground and focussing on helping over 700 families which had been displaced by the natural calamity.
Nearly 4,000 people, he said, were currently being forced to live without food, water or shelter in near freezing temperatures.
The Afghanistan Army and police are helping in rescue and rehabilitation efforts, but they have been hampered by the layers of mud which have completely buried parts of the village of Hobo Barik in the north-eastern province of Badakshan.
The rescue efforts have also been hampered by the lack of heavy earth-moving equipment in the region, which borders Pakistan, Tajikistan and China.
Latest reports suggested only one excavator had reached the area because of its poor connectivity.
Local leaders have reportedly suggested that the whole area be treated as a mass grave because the chances of finding survivors from beneath the layers of mud were unlikely.
The first landslide had hit on Friday, while a wedding was being held in the village. Another landslide, described by the governor as part of a hill collapsing, hit soon after, even as rescuers rushed to the area.
Rescuers have also warned about the possibility of more landslides due to torrential rains in the area.
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has sent a high-level delegation, headed by Vice President Mohammad Khalili, to supervise rescue and relief operations.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also issued a statement, saying, "India stands ready to provide whatever assistance and support that we can for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts to help the victims of this enormous disaster.'
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