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Ammon News - A plane carrying WHO medicine and health supplies landed in Afghanistan Monday.

This is the first shipment of medical supplies to land in Afghanistan since the Taliban authorities took control of the country.

"After days of non-stop work to find a solution, I am very pleased to say that we have now been able to partially replenish stocks of health facilities in Afghanistan and ensure that, for now – WHO-supported health services can continue," said Dr Ahmed Al Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

The 12.5 tonnes supplies delivered consist of trauma kits and interagency emergency health kits; they are enough to cover the basic health needs of more than 200,000 people, as well as provide 3,500 surgeries and treat some 6,500 trauma patients.

They would be immediately delivered to 40 health institutions in 29 provinces across Afghanistan.

The plane, which was provided by the Government of Pakistan, was loaded with the supplies earlier today by WHO’s logistics team at the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and flown directly to Mazar-i-Sharif airport in Afghanistan.

This is the first of three flights scheduled with the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to fill urgent shortages of medicines and medical supplies in Afghanistan.

"I would like to thank the Government of Pakistan and PIA for their efforts to support WHO and the people of Afghanistan. Humanitarian agencies such as WHO have faced enormous challenges in sending life-saving supplies to Afghanistan in recent weeks due to security and logistics constraints. The support of the Pakistani people has been timely and life-saving," added Dr Al-Mandhari.

The WHO is working with partners to ensure that this week’s shipment is the first of many to follow. A reliable humanitarian air bridge is urgently required to scale up the collective humanitarian efforts.

The world’s attention over the past two weeks has been focused on the air evacuation from Kabul airport; but the demanding humanitarian work of meeting the needs of tens of millions of vulnerable Afghans who remain in the country is now beginning.