First consignment of relief goods reaches Afghanistan

Assistance includes 100 tents, two tonnes of flour, one tonne of rice and 450kg of sugar

ISLAMABAD:

On the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the first consignment of relief goods for flood-affected Afghan civilians reached the land-locked country through a special flight of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), the Prime Minister Office (PMO) said on Saturday.

On the directions of PM Shahbaz Sharif, first consignment of relief goods from Pakistan for flood victims in Afghanistan has been delivered today by a special aircraft of Pakistan Air Force.
The relief goods include 100 tents, 2 tons of flour, 1 ton of rice, 450 kg of sugar.

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) May 7, 2022

Heavy rain and flooding have killed at least 22 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and damaged crops in Afghanistan, which is already facing a humanitarian crisis after the takeover of Taliban in August last year.

Also read: PM Shehbaz urges intl community to launch aid programme for Afghan flood affectees

The Taliban government, struggling to cope with the disaster that has affected more than a third of its provinces, will approach international relief organisations for help, officials said.

A PAF C-130 aircraft being loaded with the relief goods for flood-affected areas of Afghanistan: PHOTO: PMO

"Due to the flooding and storms in 12 provinces, 22 people have died and 40 injured," Hassibullah Shekhani, the head of communications and information at Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority, said.

The relief goods sent by Pakistan include 100 tents, two tonnes of flour, one tonne of rice and 450kg of sugar.

The second consignment of relief goods would be dispatched on Monday, May 9.

"Pakistan will make every possible effort to provide assistance to the flood-affected people of Afghanistan," the PM said in his statement.

Pakistan Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan confirmed that Pakistan’s Charge d’Affairs Saifullah Khan delivered a consignment of relief items.

Pakistan’s Charge d’Affairs Saifullah Khan delivered a consignment of relief items including tents, food items and medicines to Afghan disaster management organizations at Mazar-i-Sharif Airport for people affected by recent flash floods @PakPMO @ForeignOfficePk @PakinAfg pic.twitter.com/5HMN4ZAJdp

— Mansoor Ahmad Khan (@ambmansoorkhan) May 7, 2022

Dispatch of first relief consignment this morning from Islamabad to Mazar Sharif for Afghan people affected by recent floods @PakPMO @CMShehbaz @ForeignOfficePk @PakinAfg https://t.co/algvvTewUr

— Mansoor Ahmad Khan (@ambmansoorkhan) May 7, 2022