On January 2, 2022 India donated 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Afghanistan and will further send another 500,000 doses in coming days as a part of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

Key Points

• Doses were donated to the Indira Gandhi children’s hospital in Kabul.
• Vaccines were sent via a flight of Iran’s Mahan Air, since there are no direct flights between India and Afghanistan, currently.
• India had also sent 1.6 tonnes of life-saving medicines to Kabul hospital, on December 11, 2021.
• These medicines were routed through the World Health Organization.

India to provide Wheat

India had also offered to provide 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan via land routes in Pakistan. However, it has been held up because of conditions provided by Pakistan. On December 3, Pakistan stated to allow wheat and medicines supply via Wagah land border crossing in Afghan trucks. But modalities have not yet finalised.

Starvation in Afghanistan

As per World Food Programme, around 98% of Afghans are starving in the country, because of a worsening economic crisis, conflict and drought. This figure has increased by 17% since August 2021.