At least 23 people have been killed and scores are missing in devastating floods that swept through much of Afghanistan on Tuesday after days of torrential rains. Homes have been destroyed, roads damaged and hundreds of families displaced, and that shows the extent to which the country is getting more and more exposed to extreme weather events.
The floods struck in several provinces where rivers were overflowing from heavy rains, local authorities and disaster managers said.
Rescue teams have been sent to search for missing people, but their search has been hampered by damaged infrastructure and bad weather conditions.
Flash floods swept villages away, destroying homes, livestock and vehicles. Evacuation of some people was not given much warning and many fled to higher ground. Emergency workers are still going to help stranded families as the damage is being assessed.
At the same time the death toll is expected to rise as search-and-rescue works persist, government officials say. Most remote communities are still cut off because of washed-out roads and collapsed bridges, making aid workers unable to reach those areas.
Floods have also done severe damage to agricultural land and have damaged the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of families that depend on farming.
Crops have been destroyed, irrigation systems have been upended, and livestock are suffering in several districts. Food security could be worse if relief efforts are delayed.
More and more natural disasters in Afghanistan have become more frequent in recent years, including floods, droughts and earthquakes. Climate experts say changing weather patterns are making extreme rainfall events more widespread as climate change is making it more likely to have more extreme rainfall events even in areas that usually dry. But poor infrastructure and ongoing humanitarian challenges make disaster response difficult.
International humanitarian organizations have expressed concern over the recent flooding and are in touch with local authorities to provide emergency assistance. Food supplies, clean drinking water, temporary shelters, medical care and basic household items for displaced families are provided.
Residents have written of losing loved ones and watching their homes vanish in a matter of seconds. Emergency workers are now bringing in volunteers to search flooded areas to rescue people and local officials are urging people in rivers and flood-prone areas to be on alert for more heavy rain.
Meteorological authorities have warned that more rain is expected to lead to more flash floods and landslides in the affected provinces. Residents should not cross flooded roads and rivers until conditions are improved, officials said.
The tragedy is a reminder of the terrible impact of climate-related disasters on the most vulnerable in society.
With so many people missing and so many people affected, humanitarian support will be imperative for families to recover from one of Afghanistan’s most recent natural disasters.
