Moscow

Three Russian military transport aircraft have delivered 36 tons of humanitarian aid to Kabul, local media reported on Saturday.

According to Sputnik, the flights were organized on the orders of President Vladimir Putin to also evacuate over 300 people from Afghanistan. "Each Russian military transport aircraft is carrying humanitarian aid from Russia for the Afghan people. A total of 36 tons of humanitarian cargo including food and medication have been airlifted [to Afghanistan]," the Russian News Agency said citing a statement of the country's Defence Ministry.

It further added that there are medical crews onboard each aircraft to provide the fourth group of evacuees with the necessary help. The planes are to fly Russian and Kyrgyz citizens and Afghan students studying in Russia out of Afghanistan.

From August 26 to December 1, Russia evacuated 770 Russian, Belarusian, Kyrgyz, Armenian, Ukrainian, and Afghan citizens from the country, and sent 72 tons of humanitarian aid, Sputnik reported citing the defense ministry statement.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 15 and following this the country has been battered by deepening economic, humanitarian, and security crises.

A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban have ushered in a full-blown economic crisis in the country already suffering from high poverty levels.

The international community, from governments to non-governmental organizations, has been providing various assistance to the Afghan people.