China sends third shipment of COVID-19 vaccines to Afghanistan

A shipment of 800,000 COVID-19 vaccines and matching syringes arrived in Afghanistan from China on Wednesday, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) health ministry officials confirmed.

The Deputy Minister of Public Health Abdul Bari Omar, welcomed China’s assistance and thanked Beijing for its help.

China’s ambassador to Kabul, Wang Yu, also confirmed delivery and said another shipment was due to arrive in Kabul on Thursday.

“This amount of aid for the people of Afghanistan has been provided by the Chinese people, and the next amount, which includes 200,000 doses, will arrive in Kabul on Thursday,” said Wang.

Wang also stated that the 800,000 vaccines handed over is part of the total three million doses that China will provide to Afghanistan.

He said China was providing Afghanistan with about $40 million of aid that includes medical supplies, food, coats, shoes, and blankets.

“Humanity shines through the dark cloud of difficulty. China will stand firmly with Afghan people,” he tweeted.

Health officials thanked China for its help and urged other countries to also provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

“In the past they used to send tanks, ammunition and weapons, now is the time for humanitarian aid and now you have to help the people of Afghanistan and the Ministry of Health has many plans. Time proves how much work we can do,” said Omar, the deputy health minister.