Saudi Arabia dispatches tonnes of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has dispatched 1920 tonnes of food and non-edible items in its first humanitarian aid for the war-ravaged Afghanistan, two days after Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) announced to establish a fund for the country, ARY NEWS reported.

The announcement was made by the Saudi embassy in Pakistan that said that the first batch of the humanitarian aid is being dispatched and would be carried by 200 trucks via land route.

30,000 food packets and 30,000 packets of other necessary items are being dispatched to help the people of Afghanistan who are in dire need of aid owing to a crumbling economy in the wake of a Taliban takeover.

“Every food package includes all necessary edible items in it,” the Saudi Arabia’s embassy said and added that non-food items included 20,000 warm clothes and other items to deal with the winter season.

It further said that over 280,000 people would be benefitted from the package dispatched by King Salman Relief Centre.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sunday said the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers had agreed to establish a humanitarian trust fund to help Afghanistan people, facing a dire situation.

Addressing a joint press conference along with Secretary-General OIC Hissein Brahim Taha here at the conclusion of the 17th extraordinary session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, Qureshi also announced that the forum had also decided to launch a food security programme for the people of Afghanistan.

“Helping people of Afghanistan is a shared responsibility and despite the desire, Pakistan alone cannot meet their humanitarian needs,” Qureshi said and reiterated that a humanitarian crisis was looming in Afghanistan.