Chinese aid eases plight of quake-hit Afghanistan

HERAT, Afghanistan — Abdul Hamid, a villager in Herat Province of western Afghanistan, received Chinese assistance, including a tent, after sleeping in the open for several days as a result of several destructive earthquakes that have struck his country since Oct 7.

"The tents donated by China are of good quality, sturdy, and have stood against the strong winds, so we are very satisfied with these tents," said Hamid, who lost four of his family members.

Herat has experienced its worst-ever destructive earthquakes in recent decades as several tremors, some with a magnitude of 6.3, have caused thousands of casualties.

The earthquakes rendered hundreds of families homeless in the province, forcing them to live under trees in chilly winds and dust storms.

The government has pledged emergency humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan to help the country with earthquake relief work.

The first batch of relief supplies including tents and rollaway beds donated by the Chinese government arrived at Herat International Airport on Oct 15 and was handed over to the Afghan authorities.

"The problem of homelessness has been largely alleviated by the tents donated by China," Hamid said while describing China as a good neighbor of Afghanistan.

Three of his relatives who had fled to other districts after the earthquakes have also returned home in recent days since receiving tents from China, he said.

As sandstorms swept through Herat following the earthquakes, Qasim Jan, 40, said: "I would like to thank China for providing significant assistance. These tents protect us from sandstorms."

Xinhua