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Defense Officials Consider Aid for Quake Victims
Tuesday, March 26, 2002
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service

"Quite a few humanitarian organizations are on the record as saying a massive humanitarian disaster was largely averted."

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
Pentagon officials are responding to requests for assistance following a hard- hitting earthquake that struck Afghanistan about 100 miles north of the capital city of Kabul.

No U.S. or coalition forces were injured in the quake, according to U.S. Central Command officials. Pentagon spokeswoman Torie Clarke said requests for help started coming in early this morning. "We're working with them on what kind of assistance we can provide," she told Pentagon reporters here today.

A series of quakes registering magnitudes of 4.4 to 6.1 struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region Monday evening and Tuesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey Web site.

Afghan interim government officials initially reported the quake killed an estimated 1,600 Afghans and injured about 4,000. Subsequent press reports indicated the death toll may be as high as 5,000, with another 20,000 left homeless.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

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