New Delhi: India dispatched its first tranche of humanitarian aid, containing 1.6 metric tonnes of life-saving medicines to Afghanistan on Saturday. On a return flight that had brought 10 Indians and 94 Afghans from the war-torn nation a day ago, the medical stocks arrived in Kabul from Delhi. Afghanistan’s Ambassador, Farid Mamundzay said to India that the aid was a “gift from people of India”. The consignments will be passed to representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Kabul, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
The MEA said in a statement, “In view of the challenging humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, the Government of India has dispatched humanitarian assistance consisting of medical supplies on the return flight today.” It added, “These medicines will be handed over to the representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Kabul and will be administered at the Indira Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul.”
50,000 tonnes of wheat and medicines will be sent from India to Afghanistan by road transport through Pakistan. It is now finalising the modalities for transportation of the consignments with Pakistan. It has been coordinating for giving unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country. The MEA said 10 Indians and 94 Afghans came to Delhi regarding Friday’s special chartered flight. “The minority community members carried with them two ‘Swaroops of Guru Granth Sahib’ and some ancient Hindu manuscripts,” it said.
The people were brought under India’s “Operation Devi Shakti” which was inaugurated to revoke Indians as well as Afghans from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul on August 15. 565 people including 438 Indians were vacated from Afghanistan in August.