ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday dispatched a C-130 aircraft with much-needed emergency relief supplies for the people of Afghanistan, Pakistan's ambassador to Kabul said, days after heavy rains and floods wreaked havoc in 12 provinces of the war-torn country.
At least 22 people were killed and 40 injured in various incidents due to torrential rains in the country this week, according to Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority.
Rains and flash floods were particularly severe in the western provinces of Badghis and Faryab, and the northern Baghlan province.
“At the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, 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 on Twitter.
Ambassador Khan said another plane carrying more relief goods was likely to be sent to Afghanistan in the coming days. On Thursday, PM Sharif had announced the assistance for the neighbouring country.
"Pakistan will continue to stand by Afghan brothers and sisters through thick and thin," PM Sharif said on Twitter. "International community shouldn't forget Afghan people in this hour of need."
Afghanistan is already facing a humanitarian crisis and the Taliban government, struggling to cope with the disaster that has affected more than a third of its provinces, said it would approach international relief organizations for help.
In recent years, Afghanistan has suffered from droughts, made worse by climate change, with low crop yields raising fears of serious food shortages. The weather has exacerbated problems caused by decades of war and then a drop in foreign aid and the freezing of Afghan foreign assets after the Taliban took over in August.