Shipments of quake relief supplies from China arrive in Afghanistan

Two shipments of earthquake relief supplies donated by the Chinese government including tents, folding beds and blankets have arrived in Afghanistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian confirmed on Tuesday.

China will continue to monitor the disaster and post- disaster reconstruction in Afghanistan, and is willing to provide more support based on the needs of Afghan people, Zhao said on Tuesday’s press briefing.

Two PLA Y- 20 cargo planes arrived at Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan on Tuesday morning, carrying with them disaster relief supplies provided by China including tents, towel blankets, folding beds and other items, urgently needed by the Afghan people after a deadly earthquake, China Central Television reported.

The previous day, the first shipment of disaster relief supplies provided by China arrived at Kabul airport, after which six more Chinese cargo planes will deliver disaster relief supplies over the following three days, according to the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi once again expressed sincere condolences to Afghan people on the deadly earthquake in a phone conversation with Acting Foreign Minister of the Afghan Interim Government Amir Khan Muttaqi. Wang emphasized that as a friendly and close neighbor and sincere friend of Afghanistan, the Chinese side relates deeply to the difficulties faced by the Afghan people.

The Chinese government decided to provide 50 million yuan ($ 7.5 million) in emergency humanitarian assistance to the disaster areas after the earthquake, which has killed more than 1,000 people, injured nearly 2,000 with tens of thousands of homes destroyed, Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu said during an event marking the delivery of supplies on Monday.

The first shipment of supplies, including 120 tents, 320 folding beds and more than 6,000 blankets, arrived in Afghanistan on Monday.

In addition, 8,000 tons of food promised earlier by China have arrived in Afghanistan and is being distributed, according to the Chinese ambassador.

Observers said China can share experiences with Afghanistan in raising the capacity for emergency rescue, and the region can also consider building multilateral or bilateral mechanism to deal with the possible emergencies over the long term.