MoD dispatches team to rescue Panjsher affected families

KABUL (PAJHWOK): The Ministry of Defense (MoD) dispatched a team to central Panjsher province, which helped rescue a number of families trapped by avalanches.

Over 260 people were killed and 100 others wounded in the latest wave of blizzards and avalanches in parts of the country, including the worst-hit Panjsher province.

The statement said that the ministry had dispatched 24 more flights yesterday to rescue marooned people. It said that the rescue team consisted of 71 members.

However, the statement did not share exact figures of those rescued. The relief goods sent to Panjsher included blankets, edible and non-edible stuff to be distributed among the affected families.

Meanwhile, some civil society organizations on Saturday held protest in Kabul against the government luck warm response to the affected families.

The death toll from a series of avalanches and flash floods rose to 260 on Friday, with the bulk of deaths coming from central Panjsher province, where above 200 lost their lives, including women and children.

The Afghanistan cabinet announced a three-day national mourning to express solidarity with families who lost their beloved ones to avalanches in several parts of the country, a statement from the Presidential Palace said on Saturday.

Ghani on Saturday said in his address that latest situation at home and tragic deaths caused by avalanches amid incessant snowfall forced him to postpone his Iran’s visit. He said as many as 287 Afghans have been killed, 143 wounded and 1,248 homes destroyed in the natural disasters across the country.

“I prefer to stay at home with my people at this tragic moment,” the president said. He thanked his Iranian counterpart for extending him an invitation. He would visit the neighboring country soon.

sam/rm

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