Aid from China helps us get through the harsh winter - revisiting the earthquake stricken areas in Herat Province, Afghanistan

2024-02-21

In early spring, the average temperature deep in the northwest desert of Afghanistan remains below zero degrees Celsius. In the chilly wind and yellow sand, rows of tents with the words "CHINA AID" stand tall among the ruins after the earthquake. Xinhua News Agency reporters visited the disaster stricken areas of Herat Province four months after the earthquake in Afghanistan and saw such a scene. In October 2023, multiple 6.3 magnitude earthquakes occurred in the northwest of Afghanistan, resulting in over a thousand deaths and a large number of houses being destroyed. After the disaster, as the local weather turned colder and the temperature dropped below zero degrees Celsius, earthquake victims who had just escaped danger once again fell into trouble. Nisar Ahmed Elias, spokesperson for the Governor of Herat Province, once stated after the earthquake that winter is approaching and helping displaced victims resist the cold winter is a top priority. He admitted that the Afghan interim government and people face many challenges in post disaster reconstruction and avoiding humanitarian crises. Severe cold weather is a challenge that Afghan people have to face in winter. On January 15th, the United Nations Children's Fund released a report stating that Herat Province is suffering from a severe winter, which poses a threat to the lives of earthquake victims and hinders local reconstruction efforts. Just as the disaster stricken people in Afghanistan are facing the harsh winter test, aid from China has brought warmth and hope. On October 15, 2023, the first batch of Chinese aid to Afghanistan for earthquake relief and humanitarian supplies, including tents, folding beds, etc., arrived in Afghanistan. One month later, the second batch of earthquake relief supplies from the Chinese government, including cotton tents, folding beds, quilts, down jackets, and other winter supplies, arrived in Herat Province. Local villager Mohammad Jian lost five relatives in the earthquake and is now living in a tent assisted by China. He once relied on picking up scraps from the ruins to keep warm. Simply put, in addition to the tent, their family also received two Chinese aid blankets and several cotton jackets. "This allows us to stay warm in the cold winter." During a local interview, dozens of Afghans walked over and surrounded the reporter. They received aid materials from China after the earthquake. They took off the blankets or cotton jackets wrapped around their bodies and showed the journalist the signs with the words "China Aid" on them. "At least 50 households in our village have received assistance from China, thank China!" said local disaster victim Gulam Reza, who received blankets, cotton clothes, and food aid from China after the earthquake. "Without Chinese assistance, the consequences would be unimaginable. Because in the cold winter, we, who had just lost our homes in the earthquake, can hardly afford any food to make a living and have no clothing to keep warm.". "China is a friendly neighbor of Afghanistan. During the most difficult times for the people in the earthquake stricken areas, China promptly sent aid materials and solved the urgent situation," said Moussa Ashari, the head of the disaster management department in Herat Province, in an interview with reporters

Edit:Yi Jing    Responsible editor:Li Yi

Source:XinhuaNet

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