WNAM MONITORING: Qatar announced the launch of an air bridge Saturday to deliver aid to Afghanistan following a devastating earthquake, one day after confirming that nine aircraft had already arrived in Kabul.
The Foreign Ministry said on the US social media company X that “the Qatari Armed Forces have launched an air bridge of urgent humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Internal Security Force.”
It said the initiative came “under the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.”
According to a video attached to the statement, the aid includes field hospitals, as well as medical, food, shelter and rescue assistance following the deadly earthquake that struck Afghanistan.
The video noted that Minister of State for International Cooperation Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad was at the forefront of the mission, making her the first Qatari minister to arrive in Afghanistan on a humanitarian assignment.
The Foreign Ministry said Friday that “five Qatari Amiri Air Force aircraft carrying humanitarian aid provided by the Qatar Fund for Development arrived in the Afghan capital, Kabul. The aid is part of the airlift being operated by the State of Qatar to help alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Afghan people following the earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan. This brings the total number of aircraft to nine.”
The earthquake hit last Sunday, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring 4,000, causing devastation in the eastern province of Kunar.
