خبرونه - سوداګري

Russia has donated 3,000 tonnes of wheat flour to Afghanistan at a total cost of two million dollars, reports from northern Balkh province said.

The Russian Consulate General in Balkh province, Alexander Gloven, said that his country will play an important role in the rebuilding process in Afghanistan.

He said Russian remained committed to continue its assistance to Afghanistan.

"Today we donated 3,000 tonnes of wheat flour to Afghanistan. In addition, Russia has donated 42 Kamaz trucks to the Afghan people through the World Food Programme (WFP)," Mr Gloven said.

Head of the Agriculture Department in Balkh, Mohammad Kateb Shams, expressed gratitude to Russia's assistance with the Afghan people.

He said drought in the north has destroyed crops of all the rain-fed lands and 40 percent of the cultivation in arable lands has also been lost.

"Apart from the Russian donation, 260,000 tonnes of grain has been imported to Balkh province to address the needs of the people," Mr Shams said.

Drought has faced Afghan farmers with a lot of challenges in different parts of the country.

The Afghan Ministry of Agriculture has made an appeal of 142 million dollars from international community to address the needs of people affected by drought.

Russia has assisted Afghanistan in the field of economy and culture.