GUWAHATI: India has dispatched a fresh consignment of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan as the country grapples with the aftermath of devastating floods and a recent earthquake.
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The delivery of aid was confirmed by Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, who said the supplies were sent as part of India’s ongoing humanitarian outreach to support affected communities.
“At this time of hardship faced by the people of Afghanistan due to recent floods and earthquake, India has delivered HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) materials,” Jaiswal said. The consignment includes essential relief items such as kitchen sets, hygiene kits, plastic sheets, tarpaulins, and sleeping bags.
Reaffirming India’s commitment, he emphasized that the country stands in solidarity with the Afghan people and will continue extending support during the crisis.
According to reports, severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall has claimed at least 99 lives across Afghanistan. The disaster has caused widespread destruction, with landslides, thunderstorms, and lightning aggravating the situation.
Authorities estimate that around 5,000 homes have been either fully or partially destroyed, while approximately 355 kilometres of roads have been washed away. In addition, more than 14,405 acres of agricultural land have been submerged, inflicting a heavy blow to livelihoods.
The crisis has been further exacerbated by seismic activity. As reported by Al Jazeera, a powerful earthquake killed eight members of a single family in the Gosfand Dara area of Kabul Province after their home collapsed.
The 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck late Friday evening, with the United States Geological Survey identifying its epicentre in the northeastern province of Badakhshan. The quake occurred at a depth of 186 kilometres.