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.<br /><br /> The government has put the death toll at 286 with more than 400 injured mostly in the mountainous province of Panjshir.<br /><br /> Safdar Mohamed, a resident of Paryan district, joined aid workers in their helicopter so he could reach his family:<br /><br /> “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.”<br /><br /> Some progress in the relief effort has been made – a long stretch of road up the Panjshir Valley has been opened by machinery.<br /><br /> Women and children<br /><br /> In places the bodies of victims including women and children have been found under the snow.<br /><br /> Afghanistan has begun three days of national mourning for the victims.<br /><br /> Avalanches are relatively common in n
