Afghanistan

WHO opens air bridge to Afghanistan with medical supplies

Reuters

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

WHO opens air bridge to Afghanistan with medical supplies

A member of Taliban forces stands guard as Afghan men take pictures of a vehicle from which rockets were fired, in Kabul, Afghanistan August 30, 2021.

REUTER/Stringer

The World Health Organization says 12.5 tons of supplies arrive on Monday consisting of trauma kits and emergency health kits

A plane carrying World Health Organization medicines and health supplies landed in Afghanistan on Monday, August 30, the UN health agency said, the first shipment to get in since the country came under the control of the Taliban.

“After days of non-stop work to find a solution, I am very pleased to say that we have now been able to partially replenish stocks of health facilities in Afghanistan and ensure that – for now – WHO-supported health services can continue,” Ahmed Al Mandhari, WHO regional director for the eastern
Mediterranean, said in a statement.

The WHO had warned on Friday that medical supplies would run out within days in Afghanistan, announcing that it hoped to establish an air bridge into the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif by then with the help of Pakistani authorities.

WHO opens air bridge to Afghanistan with medical supplies

The 12.5 tons of supplies that arrived on Monday consist of trauma kits and emergency health kits, enough to cover the basic health needs of more than 200,000 people as well as provide 3,500 surgical procedures and treat 6,500 trauma patients, the WHO said.

They will be delivered to 40 health facilities in 29 provinces across Afghanistan, it added.

The plane, which was provided by the government of Pakistan, flew from Dubai to Mazar-i-Sharif airport. It was the first of three flights planned with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to fill urgent shortages in medicines and medical supplies in Afghanistan. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!