ISLAMABAD, Oct 23: The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) on Tuesday distributed food among 7,917 disabled heads of families in Kabul, said ICRC’s Medical and Relief Coordinator for Afghanistan Mark Steinbeck, who is currently based in Pakistan.

In a press statement here on Tuesday, Mr Steinbeck said the ICRC would distribute ration among 55,000 more people in the next six days.

He said each family had been given 100-kg wheat, 30-kg rice, 25-kg peas and 9-kg vegetable ghee. The ICRC hoped that the supply of ration would help ensure the survival of special persons and their families during next three months. He said most of the beneficiaries either had some form of paralysis or were amputees.

“These special people are one of the most vulnerable groups living in Kabul,” Mr Steinbeck said. “They all have families, comprising upto nine members, completely depending upon them,” he added. He said many of the beneficiaries were also given treatment at the ICRC’s physical rehabilitation centre by the qualified physiotherapists.

The food being distributed was in storage in Kabul during the ICRC’s normal activities in the area. He said after completion of the first phase, food would be distributed among patients in hospitals and orphans in the city and this programme would continue by the end of December.

At present, 10 hospitals and five orphanages are reportedly receiving such assistance and the ICRC team in Kabul is now planning to include additional hospitals in its programme.

It was confirmed by the ICRC in Pakistan that two trucks carrying medical supplies, which left Peshawar on Thursday, had reached Kabul safely.

Emergency kits for treating upto 1,000 injured persons had also been supplied to hospitals and special first-aid posts, the ICRC said.