Recent monsoon rains, triggering flash floods have flattened several provinces across Afghanistan and the destruction they have left in their wake in major cities put another challenge for the nascent Taliban government to deal with.
At least 182 people have been killed and another 250 were wounded in the past recent days in floods with heavy rain destroying thousands of homes and damaging agricultural land.
“There were floods in 21 provinces, and 13 of them were hit-worst with hundreds dead and wounded,” Mohammad Nassimm Haqqani, the spokesman for Afghanistan’s disaster management authority told Harici.
The deaths and financial losses occurred in Maidan Wardak, Ghazni, Zabul, Uruzgan, Kandahar, Logar, Panjshir, Parwan, Kunar, Nurustan, Nangarhar, Paktia and Khost provinces, as the country reels from an economic and humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Western sanctions imposed after the Taliban seized power last year.
“The torrential rains also destroyed 3,109 houses completely and partially, and washed away hundreds acres of agricultural lands. Over 1,000 farm animals were also killed,” Haqqani said.
The television footage showed torrents of water gushing into homes and streets in districts and villages with the Taliban army helicopters rescuing people from rooftops, and submerged vehicles and places. The Taliban have been trying to win battles against vagaries of nature.
Afghanistan also faced drought and massive earthquakes this year so far. More than 1,000 people, including women and children were killed in June in an earthquake which was unprecedented. Hundreds of homes were also destroyed, leading to the displacement of hundreds of people.
Speaking to Harici, Haqqani said that they have provided initial humanitarian assistance to the flood-hit families, including temporary shelters, blankets, kitchen utensils, food items, as well as treatment of the wounded individuals. “We have also supported the bereaved families with cash assistance within the first 72 hours of the flash-related incidents,” Haqqani added.
Taliban called for the humanitarian aid
The Taliban government has been found in tenderhood to cope with the scope of the disasters and has called for urgent assistance.
Taliban government spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid called on the international community, especially Islamic countries and humanitarian organizations, to urgently help the flood-hit Afghan families.
Global humanitarian agencies have provided some assistance but due to lack of funding it probably fails to help avoid humanitarian disaster as thousands of people are internally displaced and currently having no access to shelter or potable water.
Residents: It was a terrible night
“It was a bad night. Heavy rains poured down our village and we had no other choice but to leave everything to save our lives,” a resident in Kushi district of Logar province said.
Over 20 people died, and 35 others were wounded in floods in Logar.
“I was terrified when I saw a thunderous wave of water washing away my village. We have lost everything. Lots of people died and many more are still missing,” a resident Rafiq, who goes by one name, told Harici.
Rafiq said the residents were trying to reach a nearby mountain, but many failed and were swept away in the storm and floods.
“My home is completely destroyed, my four cows and 10 goats were killed in the floods,” Rafiq lamented.
The floods’ toll is likely to rise and Afghanistan meteorological department warned that more heavy rains and floods were expected across 21 provinces in the coming days.
“Global warming and climate change is affecting the world, which Afghanistan is no exception,” according to Haqqani, who said that lack of proper management in the past and frequent droughts have increased the vulnerability of the Afghan people.
Pakistan’s situation
Pakistan, a close neighbor of Afghanistan is also suffering from unprecedented rains due to the climate crisis that killed hundreds.
Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s climate change minister said at least 903 people were killed and 50,000 people became homeless due heavy rains triggering flash floods across Pakistan since mid-June.
“We have monsoons every year… It is nothing like this. This is a torrential downpour of biblical proportions,” Rehman said.
126 people, including children and women were killed in Sindh and Balochistan states only on Wednesday.
“Torrential rains were unprecedented and that Pakistan is not able to cope with this magnitude of climate catastrophe on its own,” according to Rehman, who called on international partners for help in crisis time.
In Afghanistan, floods had brought more misery to the Afghans as half of the country’s 40 million populations are already facing life-threatening food insecurity.
