The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Oct. 26 earthquake, which killed about 400 people in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan.

Five tons of humanitarian aid consisted of medicine and medical equipment were flown to the Afghan capital of Kabul early yesterday.

Speaking during the handover of aid, Afghanistan Deputy Health Minister Abdulbasir Sarwar thanked Turkey for the aid. "The Turks never left us alone and supported us in [difficult times]," he said.

The earthquake of 7.5 magnitude, centered deep beneath the Hindu Kush mountains located on the Afghan and Pakistani border, was the latest to strike the country that lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. Although earthquakes are common, they were not as devastating as the latest tremor since most quakes occur in sparsely populated areas.