The Nepal Weekly 
January 18, 2022The government sent humanitarian assistance materials to the citizens of Afghanistan on behalf of Nepali people on January 16. A flight of Himalaya Airlines took off for the same. The assistance materials including clothing, medicines, and utensils weighing around 14 tonnes was handed over to UN authorities at the Kabul Airport.
The humanitarian assistance package means moral responsibilities of Nepal as a member state of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to help others in need, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Narayan Khadka commented to this context.
The materials will be handed over through the representatives of the United Nations in Afghanistan today itself, he said.
“We have taken assistance from various nations and donor agencies during natural disasters. This humanitarian assistance package sends a message that Nepal does not only receive assistance during disasters but does not shy away from helping other nations in need.”
Saying that this is an important mission and campaign in view of international relations, the minister said that the UN, industrialists, businesspersons, the Airlines, and Nepal Oil Corporation have helped with this campaign by donating the materials.
“I came up with the idea of helping Afghan citizens after seeing their problems in media from the beginning. For this, I took initiatives through various diplomatic channels. So this campaign moved ahead through the Cabinet of the Government of Nepal. I consulted with ambassadors of various countries on the matter beforehand,” Foreign Minister Khadka said.
For taking the materials to Afghanistan, Nepal has received air route permits from Pakistan and the Airspace of India. The team that will carry the materials to Afghanistan includes high-ranking officials of the Ministry, representatives of the business community and media persons.
