Iran’s humanitarian aid arrives in Afghanistan’s eastern province

The first batch of humanitarian assistance sent by Iran has reached Afghanistan’s eastern province of Nangarhar, a provincial official Mawlawi Niaz Mohammad Wahaj said Monday.

Provincial government officials, and head of Iranian consulate Majid Sadiqi Dawlatabadi received the consignment, including six tons of rice and four tons of medicines, at the Jalalabad airport on Sunday afternoon, which would be distributed to needy families, including those who suffered in a recent terror attack at a mosque in the province, Wahaj said.

Expressing gratitude to Iran, the official also called upon the world community including the Islamic countries to help Afghans at this critical stage.

The aid agencies, including World Food Program and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), have expressed concerns over increasing poverty in Afghanistan and warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if the international community fails to send assistance to the war-torn country ahead of winter.