‘Challenging times’: India sends aid to Afghanistan amid floods, earthquake devastation

New Delhi: Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) supplies have been sent to Afghanistan amid recent floods and disasters, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday. earthquake. “At a time when the people of Afghanistan are facing hardship due to recent floods and earthquakes, India has provided HADR materials including kitchen utensils, hygiene items, plastic sheets, tarpaulins, sleeping bags, etc.,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told X program.

“India stands with the people of Afghanistan and remains committed to providing humanitarian assistance and support during this challenging time,” he added.Afghanistan is grappling with a series of overlapping natural disasters, with earthquakes and floods continuing to take a heavy toll on vulnerable communities. A 5.8-magnitude earthquake hit the north on Saturday, killing at least a dozen people and destroying homes in several provinces. Days of heavy rainfall caused flooding in many areas, worsening already fragile living conditions. Many of those affected are recently returned refugees from Iran and Pakistan, often living in makeshift shelters that are highly vulnerable to such disasters. As the country is located in a seismically active zone and lacks resilient infrastructure, recurring earthquakes and extreme weather events continue to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.