Floods in Afghanistan kill 17 people and destroy infrastructure
At least 17 people have died and 11 others have been seriously injured in a series of flash floods that swept across large areas of Afghanistan following unprecedented heavy rainfall in recent days. This natural disaster further complicates the already dire humanitarian situation in the country, which is grappling with multiple crises.
Details of the disaster and statements from officials
In an official statement, Mohammad Yusuf Hamad, spokesperson for the Afghan National Disaster Management Authority, explained that the country had experienced its first heavy rainfall and snowfall of the season, ending a long and severe drought that had plagued the country for years. However, this rain quickly turned into a curse, as the torrential downpours caused flash floods that struck several provinces and districts.
The Afghan official noted that the severe weather not only claimed lives but also paralyzed daily life across the central, northern, southern, and western regions. The floods severely damaged already fragile infrastructure and killed large numbers of livestock, the primary source of livelihood for rural residents, directly impacting some 1,800 families and exacerbating the already dire living conditions in both rural and urban areas.
Climate background and infrastructure challenges
Afghanistan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, despite its small contribution to global carbon emissions. The country's rugged, mountainous terrain makes it susceptible to flash floods, especially when heavy rains fall on dry, hardened soil resulting from years of drought. This prevents water absorption, turning it into destructive torrents that sweep away everything in their path.
Environmental experts point out that the sharp fluctuation between long dry seasons and torrential rain seasons has become a recurring pattern in the South and Central Asia region, which puts enormous pressure on Afghanistan’s dilapidated infrastructure, which lacks modern dams and drainage systems capable of absorbing such large amounts of rain.
Humanitarian and economic repercussions
These floods are doubly dangerous given the economic and humanitarian context in Afghanistan. With a large segment of the population dependent on agriculture and livestock herding, the loss of livestock and the destruction of farmland mean food insecurity and loss of income for thousands of families. These losses come at a time when the country is already suffering from a severe shortage of resources and international aid, making recovery from this disaster extremely difficult.
The National Disaster Management Authority has confirmed that it has sent urgent assessment teams to the worst-affected areas and is currently conducting comprehensive surveys to identify additional needs for shelter, food and medicine for those affected, in an effort to contain the crisis before it worsens.
It is worth noting that Afghanistan, like its neighbors India and Pakistan, is located within a geographical area that is severely affected by monsoon winds and extreme weather fluctuations, which calls for the development of regional and international strategies to reduce the risks of natural disasters in this vital region.
