Deliveries of oil and rice are being flown in to help victims and their families caught up in a series of huge avalanches in Afghanistan.

The government has put the death toll at 286 with more than 400 injured mostly in the mountainous province of Panjshir.

Safdar Mohamed, a resident of Paryan district, joined aid workers in their helicopter so he could reach his family:

“They are trapped as a result of snow and avalanches. It has been almost one week that I haven’t been able to get to them because the roads are blocked and there have been many casualties. Now I have a chance to fly by this army helicopter and reach my family.”

Some progress in the relief effort has been made – a long stretch of road up the Panjshir Valley has been opened by machinery.

Women and children

In places the bodies of victims including women and children have been found under the snow.

Afghanistan has begun three days of national mourning for the victims.

Avalanches are relatively common in n