India partners with UNODC to assist Afghan drug users

KABUL (Pajhwok): India has now partnered with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Afghanistan to provide assistance for the welfare of Afghan drug user population, especially females.

Under this partnership, India has supplied 11,000 units of hygiene kits, baby food and hygiene kits, toys, blankets, female clothing, footwear, medical aid and other miscellaneous items to UNODC, Kabul.

The supplies included the famous Channapatna organic-color crafted wooden toys for the Afghan children -- a traditional craft protected as a geographical indication (GI) under the World Trade Organization.

The toys included, magnetic letter/alphabet set, wooden building blocks and hand puppets. Along with sparking creativity, the toys will promote imaginative play and foster essential developmental skills.

Interestingly, the toys have been beautifully crafted women artisans of a rural Self-Help Group, Fiza Handicrafts based in Channapatna, who have poured in their love, dedication and passion into creating these beautiful wooden toys, which will bring smile to the faces of Afghan Children.

The female hygiene kits, baby food and hygiene kits have been supplied by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). NDRF had earlier supplied earthquake relief assistance to Afghanistan in June 2022.

Other items, which included female clothing, 10,000 mtr. cloth material, sneakers, slippers, coloring books, color pencils, table-chairs for classroom etc., were supplied by Uttar Pradesh Handicrafts Development & Marketing Corporation (UPHDMC).

In the aftermath of the earthquake, most of the items were utilized by UNODC for the Herat earthquake affected victims and the remaining items shall be utilized in their Drug Treatment Centers and for the disadvantaged Afghan children across Afghanistan.

Till date, India has supplied 50,000 MTs of wheat, 250 tons of medical aid, 28 tons of earthquake relief aid and stationary items and winter clothing for the primary students of Habibia School.

pr/ma