Humanitarian aid from Uzbekistan to the Afghan people was handed over in Mazar-i-Sharif during a solemn ceremony, the press office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan reported.
The cargo included flour, sugar, rice, textiles and coal. Humanitarian assistance is to prevent a famine in Afghanistan and help the country get through the tough economic times.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Interim Government of Afghanistan Sher Abbas Stanikzai, Governor of Balkh Province Qudratullah Abu Hamza and the members of the Uzbek diaspora in Afghanistan represented the Afghan side at the solemn ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sher Abbas Stanikzai expressed gratitude to President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on behalf of the Afghan people for providing support and solidarity with Afghanistan in these difficult times. He emphasised that Uzbekistan was one of the first countries to respond to the call to help Afghanistan.
Other participants of the ceremony expressed gratitude to the Uzbek side.
The chefs from Uzbekistan had prepared a traditional Uzbek festive plov for the participants of the ceremony.
The day before, the Uzbekistan delegation took part in the Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad on the situation in Afghanistan, including the provision of humanitarian assistance to the country.
