DUSHANBE, Oct 7: Russia has sent 123 tonnes of humanitarian aid to help civilians in northern Afghanistan, officials in neighboring Tajikistan said upon receiving the shipments on Sunday.

Five Russian emergency ministry planes loaded with supplies including canned food, rice and tea, as well as tents and blankets, landed in transit in the Tajik capital.

A ministry spokesman said the consignment was intended for some 150,000 civilians in northern Afghanistan and for the Northern Alliance, which is fighting Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban militia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last month promised to step up his country’s military assistance to the Northern Alliance. Emergency ministry officials however said that the planes were not carrying military equipment for the anti-Taliban forces.

Russian officials said the government had earmarked some $500 million for Afghan humanitarian aid.—AFP