Russian Humanitarian Mission Arrives in Kabul

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 27, 2001

Russian Humanitarian Mission Arrives in Kabul

Twelve Russian planes carrying emergency personnel, construction workers, diplomats and technical equipment on board arrived in Afghan capital of Kabul Monday for the creation of a humanitarian center.

First Deputy Emergency Minister Yuri Vorobyov said the mission, also including mine clearing experts and a security team, arrived at the Baghram airport on Monday morning.

"The mine cleaners, together with the security team, will work to ensure a safe route from Baghram airport to Kabul and check the place where the center will be based," he said.

President Vladimir Putin told Cabinet members on the same day that Russian military transport aviation had never conducted such a large-scale operation in recent years.

This showed Russia had started a new stage of humanitarian operation in Afghanistan, he said.

Vorobyov also noted the increase of the Russian humanitarian presence in Afghanistan. Some 200 people, including support and security services, will be working in the humanitarian center in Kabul, and the Russian Catastrophe Medicine Center will deploy a mobile hospital there, he said.

Russian transport helicopters carrying necessary equipment would arrive in Kabul within this week, and a Russian humanitarian convoy will head for Kabul by the end of the week, the deputy minister said.

The Russian humanitarian center is being deployed at the permission of the "legitimate Afghan authorities" and in close coordination with the U.S. representatives, he added.

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