TEHRAN – The sixth shipment of humanitarian aid has been sent to the earthquake victims in "Zinda Jan" district in Herat Province, Afghanistan.

“Eleven trucks carrying the consignments headed for this country on Monday through Dogharon border in the east of Khorasan Razavi province,” IRIB quoted Mohsen Zakerian, an official with the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s center in Khorasan Razavi province, as saying.

Donated goods included food, oil, rice, canned goods, blankets, detergents, carpets, and medical equipment weighing over 250 tons with an estimated value of more than 100 billion rials (some $200,000).

Zakerian, referring to the previously sent consignments, said, "The past five shipments of humanitarian aid, weighing over 760 tons of goods, were worth 450 billion rials (some $900,000) and were dispatched to quake-affected areas via 29 trucks.”

Four powerful quakes in just over a week have killed more than 2,400 people in Afghanistan, according to the ruling Taliban administration.

They were among the world's deadliest earthquakes this year, after February’s tremors in Turkey and Syria.

The initial quake measuring 6.3 magnitudes and numerous aftershocks flattened whole villages and destroyed hundreds of mud-brick homes in Heart on October 7. UN officials said more than 90 percent of the victims were women and children.

On September 26, Amir Saeed Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative to the UN, called for immediate and unconditional humanitarian aid for Afghanistan as the country is wrestling with economic woes.

“Iran played a crucial role in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan by establishing a novel distribution route that utilized the Chabahar port in Iran. As an example, on July 4th, a substantial shipment of 10,000 metric tons of wheat successfully reached Herat for further distribution to people in need across Afghanistan.

Despite the Taliban's failure to meet their commitments, we must maintain our constructive engagement with the de facto authorities. This approach is instrumental in seeking the best possible outcomes for the people of Afghanistan and the broader international community.”

Iravani made the remarks during a briefing on the “Situation in Afghanistan” at the UN Security Council.

MT/MG