In the aftermath of the earthquake which caused devastation in northern Afghanistan overnight 25/26 March, ISAF responded quickly to requests from the Afghan Interim Authority, dispatching a team of experts to help assess the situation. The earthquake struck the area around the town of Nahrin, east of Baghlan. In the early evening of 26 March, Coalition helicopters set out for the region - in remote and difficult country at the best of times, and with reported loss of road access. Aboard were officials from the Afghan Interim Authority, experts from aid organisations such as UNICEF and the UK's Department for International Development, and a multinational team of military specialists from ISAF, who will be assessing what can be achieved in support of the Interim Authority, as well as some emergency stores. Although the affected region technically lies outside of ISAF's area of responsibility in and around Kabul, it was clearly appropriate that it should respond to the Interim Authority's request to provide technical expertise to help scope rapidly the full extent of the tragedy.

As humanitarian supplies from all over the world began to arrive in the region at both Kabul airport and at Islamabad in Pakistan, ISAF military transport aircraft were made available to help with the initial onward movement of the supplies directly to the affected region. In an operation coordinated by the United Nations and Afghan Interim Authority. German C-160 Transall, and Belgian, Romanian and British C-130 Hercules transport aircraft assigned to ISAF have been ferrying large quantities of aid to Mazar-e-Sharif, until additional civilian transports can arrive on the scene. ISAF medical staff have also helped out with the reception at Kabul of earthquake victims.

French ISAF medical personnel provide first aid to an earthquake victim flown into Kabul by a US military helicopter (High resolution version)	An ISAF ambulance stands by to help convey casualties to hospital (High resolution version)	A German ISAF officer helps a UN official plan the delivery of the next consignment of aid supplies (High resolution version)
Food, blankets and tents loaded aboard a German C-160 Transall airlifter at Kabul, for delivery to Mazar-e-Sharif (High resolution version)	Lorryloads of humanitarian supplies arrive at Kabul for loading aboard ISAF transport aircraft for delivery to the affected area of Afghanistan (High resolution version)	Lorryloads of humanitarian supplies arrive at Kabul for loading aboard ISAF transport aircraft for delivery to the affected area of Afghanistan (High resolution version)

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