Hand-over ceremony of humanitarian aid from Uzbekistan to the people of Afghanistan was took place in Afghan Mazar-e-Sharif on December 23, the Foreign Ministry of Affairs said.

According to the Surkhandarya governor’s office, the 4000-ton humanitarian aid included 1000 tons of flour, 60 tons of sugar, 200 tons of rice, 10 thousand packs of butter, 26.5 thousand packs of jam, 26.2 thousand packs of canned vegetables, 30 tons bakeries, 14.2 thousand units of instant noodles, 20 thousand units of women's and men's clothing, 15 thousand units of men's, women's and children's socks, and coal.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister of the caretaker government of Afghanistan Sher Abbas Stanakzai expressed gratitude to President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on behalf of the Afghan people for "constant attention, support and solidarity in these difficult times for the country," the statement said.

He stressed that "the Afghan people have always felt the fraternal attitude of the Uzbek leader, therefore the new authorities of the country will do everything possible to further strengthen good-neighborly relations, and will never allow any threats from their territory to neighboring countries, including Uzbekistan" , said the press service of the Foreign Ministry.

Governor of Balkh province Qudratullah Abu Hamza underscored the timeliness of humanitarian assistance, its significance for the Afghan people in the winter. This, according to him, is one more proof of deep historical and spiritual ties between the two fraternal peoples.

Representatives of the Afghan public, including well-known figures of ethnic Uzbeks, who spoke at the ceremony, again expressed their sincere gratitude to the head of Uzbekistan for unprecedented assistance. "According to them, this assistance will in fact help to prevent massive hunger in the country, the most severe humanitarian and food crisis," the message says.

During the event, Uzbek chefs prepared a charity Uzbek pilaf, which was treated to all those present.