Herat ARCS handed over 508 MT Turkiye aid

KABUL (Pajhwok): More than 500 tons food and non-food aids from Turkey has arrived in western Herat province for the earthquake effected people and Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan, according to a statement on Sunday.

The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) wrote on its X handle about 222 tonnes food and 286 tons non-food items were included in 508 Metric Tonnes (MT)  of assistance and handed over to ARCS in Herat province on Saturday.

ARCS did not give details about the non-food items, but they say that the food items include flour, oil, rice, beans, lentils, peas, sugar, rub, olives, macaroni, black tea, soup flour, jam and biscuits.

Maulvi Ahmadullah Muttaqi, Director of Information and Culture Department and Head of the Commission for Earthquake Relief, said in addition to food, clothes, blankets, tents, sanitary materials and medicines were also included in these donations.

He said around 300 tons of this aid will be distributed to earthquake survivors and the rest to returnees.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Embassy in Kabul also wrote on its X handle that the eighth train of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan from Turkey had arrived to Torghundi port of Herat province.

Earlier, Turkey had also distributed food and non-food items to about 500 earthquake effected families in the province as well.

Two months ago, more than 2,500 people, including children and women, lost their lives and thousands were injured in a series of earthquakes in Herat.

Meanwhile, the government of Pakistan had set November 1 deadline for all refugees lacking legal residency documents to leave the country or face mass deportations.

According to reports, Afghan refugees with legal documents are also being arrested, their houses demolished and many forcibly evicted from Pakistan.

Earlier, Zabihullah Mujahid, the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’ (IEA) spokesman has said more than 400,000 Afghan refugees have returned to the country from Pakistan since November 1.

The United Nations has allocated 10 million US dollars to help Afghans returning from Pakistan.

Also, the United Nations World Food Program has helped 112,000 Afghan refugees evacuated from Pakistan and needs 16 million dollars for 1 million more refugees.

Kk/nh

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