MOSCOW. Oct 15 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu, whom President Vladimir Putin put in charge of aid to Afghanistan, will fly to Dushanbe on Friday to attend a meeting with his CIS counterparts at which the Afghan situation will be analyzed and cooperation in providing humanitarian aid to Afghans discussed.
"The international coalition's anti-terrorist operation has a significant humanitarian component. A large-scale program to support the Afghan population has been developed in Russia," First Deputy Emergencies Minister Yuri Vorobyov told Interfax on Sunday.
Russia was one of the first countries to start sending humanitarian aid via Tajikistan for Afghanistan's northern provinces. The Cabinet appropriated 102.5 million rubles and $400,000 to purchase and deliver humanitarian aid.
Nearly 80 tonnes of foodstuffs, 320 large tents, 6,000 blankets, 10 tonnes of medicines and warm clothes have been flown to Tajikistan since October 1.
A 78-car train bound for Tajikistan is being loaded with tents, stoves for tents, electric generators, foodstuffs, warm clothes, soaps and disinfectants.