snow disrupts relief operations in northern afghansitan

thr 018 afghanistan-snow snow disrupts relief operations in northern afghansitan mazar-i sharif, feb. 17, irna -- heavy snow in northern afghanistan, the montainous and quake-hit province of takhar in particular, has disrupted relief operations to the survivors of the recent quake in rastaq region. a strong quake with a magnitude of 6.1 on the richter scale hit rastaq, in takhar province, on february 5 claiming 4,500 lives and making over 30,000 people homeless. part of the relief supplies has been airlifted and distributed among quake survivors by helicopters during the past two days, said an official close to afghan president burhannudin rabbani monday evening. relief supplies from neighboring countries including iran, india, pakistan and several u.n. relief and charity organizations have been airlifted to airports in khaje ghar, feizabad and takhar in northern afghanistan and koulab and dushanbe in tajikistan. president burhanuddin rabbani has arrived in rastaq, 60 km from takhar's provincial capital, taleqan. ys/jh end ::irna 17/02/98 13:13