Pakistan sends relief goods for Panjsher families

KABUL on Saturday dispatched two planes of relief assistance for the Afghan people affected by recent avalanches in different parts of the country.

A statement from the Pakistan’s Embassy in Kabul said that two C-130 planes arrived at Kabul airport on Saturday carrying tents, blankets, warm cloths, medicines and essential food items to help the disaster-hit people of Afghanistan on behalf of the government, army and people of Pakistan.

The Afghan cabinet announced a three-day national mourning to express solidarity with families who lost their beloved ones to avalanches in several parts of the country, a statement from the Presidential Palace said on Saturday.

The death toll from a series of avalanches and flash floods rose to 260 on Friday, with the bulk of deaths coming from central Panjsher province, where above 200 lost their lives, including women and children.

The statement said that the consignment sent under instructions of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, was handed over at the Kabul airport to Chairman of Afghan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) Dr. Daim Kakar and Chairman of Panjsher Shura General Din Mohammad Jurrat by Ambassador of Pakistan Syed Abrar Hussain.

The Afghan dignitaries appreciated this gesture as help in the time of need from a brotherly country and expressed gratitude for this timely support.

The avalanches came after days of heavy snow, which destroyed more than 100 homes in the province and blocked main roads, making it difficult for rescue workers to reach the stricken villages.

The death toll was confirmed by Panjsher provincial police chief, Abdul Aziz Ghairat.

“The volume of snow is really huge in districts in Panjsher,” Ghairat said, “There are some districts where we do not have any news from them, the communication lines have cut off due to avalanches.”

Mohammad Aslam Sayas, deputy chief of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, said the army was distributing supplies to people in areas of Panjsher still unreachable by road.

“Helicopters are dropping medicines, blankets and other necessary items to remote areas of Panjsher,” Sayas said.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, 36 died in the remote northeastern province of Badakhshan, five in northern Baghlan, five in Parwan and 12 in Nuristan and Kunar provinces in the east, and five in western Badghis. Six were killed in the central province of Bamiyan, four in Laghman and one in Nangarhar, both in the east — bringing the total toll to at least 260.

Deadly avalanches are common in Afghanistan’s mountainous areas in winter. One in the remote far northeast in 2012 left 145 people missing presumed dead.

Rescue efforts after disasters such as avalanches and flash floods, which often hit as snows melt in the spring, are frequently hampered by lack of equipment.

Poor infrastructure makes it difficult for rescue teams to reach isolated areas.

pr/rm