KABUL - A number of lawmakers in Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on Wednesday criticized the government for the delay in helping people hit by Monday's earthquake.

The lawmakers, who summoned officials from ministries of Public Health, Public Works, Rural Development, and Refugees and Repatriation, asked them to speed up efforts to the affected families.

"The help given to earthquake-hit families is not sufficient. We have reports that the families are still bearing the brunt of lots of problems. The aid process should be accelerated," said Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, the house speaker.

Meanwhile, Wais Ahmad Barmak director of Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) said a number of countries have started helping the earthquake-hit families.

"We are faced with security problems in Kunar, Nuristan and Badakhshan provinces but we have searched alternatives and we have agreed with a number of organizations to help the affected people there," Barmak added.

"We are distributing relief packages to the people while in some areas we distribute food parcels for the affected residents. We are using every way to help them," Barmak said.

Some lawmakers also raised the issue of Kunduz displaced families and blamed the government for not helping them.

"Kunduz residents have been highly affected. Why is the government is not paying attention to them?" asked Kamal Safi, an MP from Kunduz.

The session was interrupted after the MPs raised different issues and arguments broke out. (Tolonews)