A newly built town in the earthquake-affected areas of Gulran District in Herat has been completed and handed over to survivors.

The new homes in Botan town were jointly constructed by a group of Afghan and Iranian businessmen.

Saad Khatibi, a representative of a charity foundation, said: "In Botan village of Gulran district in Herat, construction of a housing project began for those whose homes were destroyed, and it has now been completed."

This new town is being described as a symbol of solidarity between the people of Afghanistan and Iran. According to some Iranian businessmen, they plan to continue supporting needy families in Afghanistan.

Mahmoud Siadat, head of the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said: "A symbol of friendship between the two nations has been created, and the project has been named the 'Solidarity Project'."

Wali Shah Bahra, a member of the Herat Earthquake Response Commission, stated: "The commission is still surveying to identify families who have not yet benefited from this assistance and to determine further steps needed for building more housing complexes."

In addition to the homes, safe drinking water has also been provided for the town’s residents.

Many earthquake survivors, who previously lived in tents under harsh conditions, said they are happy to finally have proper housing after about a year and a half of homelessness.

Habib-ur-Rahman, a resident of Gulran district, said: "We used to walk six kilometers to fetch water, but now the water access problem has been fully solved."

Botan village in Gulran district was one of dozens of towns in northern and western Herat that were destroyed by a devastating earthquake about a year and a half ago.