Iranian aid reaches refugees on Tajik border

Some 13,000 impoverished Afghan refugees stranded in a makeshift camp along the Pyandj Rive on the Tajik-Afghan border were the beneficiaries of a humanitarian aid shipment from Iran, AFP reported on Friday. According to the report, 40 mt of flour, butter, canned food and blankets were distributed to the refugees who had fled the advancing Taliban army and were now suffering from cold, diseases and hunger on Thursday. Commenting on the shipment, the second in 20 days to the camp area, Iranian Ambassador to Tajikistan Saidrasul Musavi said: “Iran will continue to help, but aid from the international community is very scant... unless international organisations join our efforts and provide aid, the refugees are doomed to a horrible tragedy,” the report said.