Chinese company's food aid brightens Afghans' celebrations

PUL-E-ALAM, Afghanistan — Standing beside a truck loaded with food donations in Afghanistan, Shah Agha expressed his excitement to take the foodstuff home to his family.

"I took flour, cooking oil, tea and sugar. My children will be delighted."

Agha is among a group of needy Afghans from the eastern Logar Province receiving food donations from Chinese mining company MCCJCL Aynak Minerals at the Mosi Aynak base on June 21 before Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, which falls on Wednesday.

The company donated humanitarian aid worth $20,000 to needy families in the province's Mohammad Agha district.

Agha, who is the breadwinner for his family of 10, said he had not brought anything home to his family yet to celebrate Eid al-Adha.

"I earn a daily wage and the availability of work depends on my luck, as I work two or three days a week on average. I earn 350 afghanis ($4) daily," Agha said.

Bulbul, another aid recipient, told Xinhua News Agency that the food aid for each recipient will last about 10 days, and he plans to keep it for Eid.

"During that time, we can make palaw (a traditional dish mainly made of rice)," he said.

"In our daily farming life, we only have a little palaw to eat, just making meals with some vegetables."

The last time Bulbul ate palaw was 10 days ago. "We eat palaw during Eid al-Adha, at wedding parties, or while receiving such food from charity," he said.

Eid al-Adha will be widely celebrated across the country for three days, during which rich people will organize charity programs to provide free meals to people in need.

"I'm really thankful for the Chinese company's assistance," Bulbul said.

Mawlawi Atiqullah Azizi, acting deputy minister of information and culture, expressed his gratitude to the Chinese company for its act of kindness in a speech.

Over the past year, China has also been providing other forms of humanitarian assistance, including COVID-19 vaccines, winter clothes, food and tents to needy Afghans.

Azizi said the donations and presence of Chinese people and China-invested companies in Afghanistan have boosted the country's progress in nation building through a number of major projects.

Xinhua