Bangladesh sends aid to earthquake-hit Afghanistan

The Bangladesh government has sent a substantial amount of humanitarian aid to earthquake-hit Afghanistan. The emergency relief includes biscuits_ noodles and powdered milk along with blankets_ tents_ and medicine which has been sent to the Afghan government on Tuesday.

The country was hit by a strong earthquake on June 22_ killing more than a thousand Afghans and more than 2000 people were injured. Thousands of homes were completely destroyed.

The disaster has created a humanitarian crisis with acute shortages of food_ water and shelter as well as emergency medical treatment_ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh said in a press release.

The relief is being delivered under the supervision of the foreign ministry with active participation and support of the armed forces by a special Air Force C-130J aircraft.

The assistance is a manifestation of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's commitment to the collective prosperity of South Asia and its people_ the Foreign Ministry said.

The two countries have historic relationship. During the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh_ the Afghan government and people at the time facilitated the safe travel of Bangladeshis stranded in Pakistan_ back home.

Given these historic ties and as well as PM Hasina's policy of integrated development_ Bangladesh has already sent Tk 10 million from the relevant budget of the foreign ministry to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) as assistance for the people of Afghanistan in the crisis emerging from the political changes there.