Islamabad: Pakistan on Saturday delivered the first consignment of emergency relief supplies to flood victims in neighbouring Afghanistan via PAF aircraft.
The C-130 aircraft loaded with relief goods took off from the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi and landed in Mazar-i-Sharif city of Afghanistan on May 7. The relief goods included at least 100 tents, two tons of flour, one ton of rice, and 450kg of sugar.
“Pakistan today dispatched first C-130 to Afghanistan containing relief assistance in tents, food items and medicines for the people affected by recent flash floods,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan said. Another plane carrying more relief goods is likely to be sent to Afghanistan on May 9.
Flooding and storms in 12 provinces killed nearly 22 people and injured 40, according to Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in floods and announced emergency assistance for the Afghan people affected by the devastating floods in the country already facing a humanitarian and economic crisis. “We are with the Afghan people in this difficult hour and will provide them every possible assistance,” PM Sharif said. He also asked the International community to provide emergency assistance to the Afghan people.
“Pakistan as a neighbouring country has been at the forefront of efforts for provision of humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people and hopes that the international community would also play its active part in providing timely relief and economic assistance to the affected people in Afghanistan” Pakistan Foreign Office statement said.
