SAR-E POL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban authorities in northern Sar-e Pol province have reported that five people, including women and children, have died due to the cold weather and heavy snowfall over the last five days.
In a statement dated Tuesday, March 5, the office of the Taliban governor in Sar-e Pol reported that these individuals, including two women and two children, have died in the districts of Al-Badr and Kohistanat.
According to the Taliban, the women and children died due to the cold and not reaching the health center in time in Al Badr district. In Kohistanat district, one person died as a result of the collapse of their house roof because of heavy snowfall.
Furthermore, the Taliban governor’s office in the province said that the recent snowfall, in addition to human casualties, has resulted in the deaths of dozens of livestock and substantial financial losses.
Afghanistan has been battling with incessant heavy rains and snowfall in recent weeks, resulting in the deaths and injuries of dozens of people in many provinces. It has also claimed the lives of thousands of livestock and caused significant financial losses for the already impoverished population.
The country is among the world’s poorest, plagued by decades of war, susceptible to natural disasters, and vulnerable to extreme weather events linked to climate change.
This year’s heavy snowfall comes after several years of severe drought that impacted agriculture production across the country.
Yesterday, Janan Sayeq, the spokesperson for the Taliban Ministry of State for Disaster Management reported that the recent heavy snowfall and extreme weather conditions have resulted in the deaths of at least 39 people and injuries to dozens of others across multiple provinces in Afghanistan.
“The recent snow and rain have completely or partially destroyed 637 residential homes and claimed the lives of 14,000 livestock,” Sayeq told China’s Xinhua news agency.
Data obtained from northern Balkh and Faryab provinces by the local news agency TOLOnews also indicates a severe toll on livestock, with nearly ten thousand animals perishing as a result of the recent snowfalls.
Earlier, the Taliban authorities announced the formation of a committee, comprising various ministries, to address the damages and crises arising due to the adverse weather situation.
The ruling regime in Afghanistan has also allocated AFN 50 million ($690,000) to support livestock owners in the provinces of Balkh, Jawzjan, Badghis, Faryab, and Herat.
