More than 300 people have lost their lives in flash floods sweeping through northern Afghanistan with authorities now confirming more than 1,600 people injured. The heavy rainfall, tiggered by unusually intense seasonal rainfall, has devastated communities, particularly in the province of Baghlan.
In response to the crisis, international aid organizations, including the United Nations Food Agency and UNICEF, are mobilizing relief efforts, dispatching teams to provide essential supplies and medical assistance to those affected.
“The heavy rains and subsequent floods have disrupted lives and pose a significant risk to children in the affected provinces,” said Tajudeen Oyewale of UNICEF South Asia. “As always, UNICEF stands with the children and people of Afghanistan during this difficult time,” added Oyewale.
According to reports, the flash flood has left hundreds of thousands of people isolated, with limited access to essential services. Save the Children reported that about 600,000 individuals, half of them children, reside in the severely impacted districts of Baghlan. Arshad Malik, country director for Save the Children, mourned the loss of lives and livelihoods, emphasizing the urgent need for assistance.
“The flash floods tore through villages, sweeping away homes and killing livestock. Children have lost everything,” said adding that the “families who are still reeling from the economic impacts of three years of drought urgently need assistance.”
The Taliban government has declared a state of emergency in affected areas, with the Ministry of National Defense coordinating relief efforts, including the distribution of food, medicine, and first aid.
The extent of the devastation underscores Afghanistan’s vulnerability to climate-related emergencies, as highlighted by Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan. “Recent floods… are a stark reminder of Afghanistan’s susceptibility to the climate crisis,” Bennett emphasized.
Emergency personnel are working tirelessly to search for victims buried under mud and rubble, with security forces assisting in rescue operations. However, with ongoing rains further complicating rescue efforts, authorities warn that the death toll may continue to rise.
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