Kuala lumpur: Malaysia plans to deploy the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to Afghanistan to provide aid to victims of the recent earthquake that struck the country. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the proposal will be conveyed to the Director-General of the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid stated he will also discuss with Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin the possibility of sending the Malaysian Armed Forces Health Corps (Royal Health Corps) to join SMART in the mission. He emphasized coordinating with NGOs, particularly volunteer groups experienced in assisting flood victims and other natural disasters, to help those affected.

Ahmad Zahid mentioned plans to contact the Afghan Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the details of deploying the team to assist in Afghanistan. This announcement was made during a press conference after officiating the Motivasi Desa (MODE)@KEMAS KKDW and Bakti MADANI@KPT programmes.

The earthquake, measuring 6.0 in magnitude, struck eastern Afghanistan around midnight on August 31, followed by several aftershocks. On Thursday, the Ariana News portal reported that the death toll had exceeded 2,200 people, with more than 3,600 injured.