Afghanistan bears brunt of devastating flood emergency
Flash floods resulted in the deaths of at least 120 people in Afghanistan and Pakistan since Friday, and caused damage to houses, infrastructure and farmland, according to authorities.
While the losses in both countries are devastating, the impact of the disaster will be particularly severe in Afghanistan.
The country has been largely cut off from international assistance since the Taliban regained control in 2021, following two decades of war with a US-led coalition and western-backed government.
“Our estimates show that around 70 people lost their lives and around 56 were injured as a result of heavy rains and floods across 23 provinces of Afghanistan,” Janan Sayeq, spokesman of the Taliban-run Disaster Management Authority, told The National.
Other estimates put the death toll at about 88.
“In addition, 2,627 houses, three mosques and four schools have been partially or completely damaged,” Mr Sayeq said.
Devastated by the continuing humanitarian crisis and enduring drought in the country, most families affected by the floods in Afghanistan urgently require humanitarian assistance.
“Together with aid organisations, we are trying to provide help for those affected by the recent floods considering their urgent needs such as food, shelter and rehabilitation of their agricultural land,” Mr Sayeq said.
Despite prolonged drought in Afghanistan leading to harvest failure, sudden deluges from flash floods can further devastate existing crops.
“It’s peak vegetable season in this region and wheat will be ready for collection soon. The continuing rain will destroy most of it, causing great loss for the farmers,” Sardar Agha, a farmer from Laghman province in eastern Afghanistan, the country’s main agricultural region, told The National.
According to estimates from the country’s disaster management authority, more than 19,000 hectares of agricultural land has been destroyed and more than 2,000 livestock have perished since the weekend.
This will affect food security across the country, as more than half of the population is already in need of humanitarian assistance, the UN said.
On Thursday, Afghanistan’s Aviation Ministry warned of the possibility of more heavy rains and floods in 29 out of 34 provinces of the country in the coming two days.
Due to its mountainous geography, sparse vegetation cover in many areas and inadequate infrastructure, Afghanistan is particularly vulnerable to flash floods.
Many communities in remote areas face heightened risks, as they lack proper road access and are threatened by
Many communities in remote areas face risks, as they lack proper road access and are threatened by landslides
landslides. The country’s disaster preparedness and response capacity are severely limited, as most international funding has ceased.
“With the recent floods, we lost our houses and our livestock,” 54-year-old Haji Gul from Uruzgan province told The National.
“We won’t be able to build our house without support from the government. If we can’t get help soon, our children may die.”
Experts suggest that the steps taken so far to prevent floods have been limited and are insufficient to address the devastating situation, especially given the greater impacts of climate change, including increased frequency and intensity of rainfall.
“Afghanistan doesn’t have the required infrastructure to store rainwater and prevent floods,” Noorudin Jalali, a Kabul-based environmentalist, told