New Delhi : In a significant gesture of humanitarian support, India has dispatched 73 tonnes of life-saving medicines, vaccines and essential nutritional supplements to Kabul, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to the wellbeing of the Afghan people. The consignment, sent under the supervision of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), aims to help Afghanistan address its escalating healthcare requirements amid continued shortages of medical supplies.
According to the MEA, the latest tranche of assistance has been tailored to meet urgent medical demands across hospitals and primary healthcare centres in Afghanistan. The shipment includes a wide range of antibiotics, emergency medicines, paediatric vaccines, insulin, infusion fluids, and therapeutic supplements designed to treat malnutrition — a growing concern among vulnerable groups, particularly children and women.
Officials familiar with the consignment said that the aid package was prepared after assessing ground-level requirements shared by Afghan healthcare institutions and humanitarian partners operating in the region. The MEA said that India has always prioritised the basic needs of the Afghan population and that this assistance underscores New Delhi’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted access to essential healthcare despite the challenging circumstances in the country.
“India stands firmly with the people of Afghanistan in their time of need. The dispatch of 73 tonnes of medical aid reflects our belief that humanitarian assistance must remain insulated from political complexities,” the ministry stated. It further noted that the supplies will help augment Afghanistan’s strained health infrastructure, which continues to grapple with medicine shortages, disruptions in funding and limited access to specialised treatments.
Medical experts highlight that the consignment will provide immediate relief to several overburdened hospitals facing depleted stocks of essential drugs. The vaccines included in the shipment are expected to strengthen routine immunisation efforts, which have been severely affected in recent years due to conflict, reduced mobility and supply chain constraints. The nutritional supplements, especially ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) packets and micronutrient blends, will support ongoing interventions for malnutrition — an area identified as a critical health challenge by international agencies.
India has been consistently supplying humanitarian aid to Afghanistan since 2021, offering wheat, winter clothing, disaster relief materials, Covid-related supplies and medical equipment. This latest consignment builds on earlier commitments and reinforces India’s insistence that assistance to the Afghan people remains a priority rooted in historical ties, shared culture and long-standing development partnerships.
Diplomatic observers view this continued engagement as part of India’s broader humanitarian outreach, ensuring that essential services reach the most affected communities. Despite limited direct channels of cooperation, India has maintained close coordination with international humanitarian organisations to ensure transparent, need-based delivery of aid.
With winter setting in and healthcare needs intensifying, the latest shipment will provide critical support to Afghanistan’s medical ecosystem. India’s sustained humanitarian assistance not only addresses immediate requirements but also reflects its enduring commitment to the welfare of the Afghan population during a period of uncertainty and instability.
