KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The European Union (EU) announced that it has allocated an additional €200,000 ($218,000) to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to families affected by the recent devastating floods in Afghanistan.
In a statement on Monday, May 27, the EU delegation in Afghanistan announced that the aid will benefit approximately 28,000 people in some of the hardest-hit provinces, especially in the western, northern, and eastern regions.
“The emergency response includes the provision of health care services, shelter items, dignity kits and household items such as blankets, jerricans, tarpaulins, and kitchen sets. Multipurpose cash grants will also be provided to ensure they can meet their daily basic needs,” part of the statement reads.
The EU delegation in Afghanistan stated that this latest contribution is in addition to the €400,000 aid package provided earlier this month in response to the floods in Afghanistan.
Heavy rainfall followed by widespread floods in northern and northeastern provinces of Afghanistan since early May has resulted in significant casualties and damage to the local population.
A recent UNICEF report highlights that flooding in Afghanistan has claimed nearly 450 lives and injured over 1,700 people. Approximately 80,000 people have been affected by the disaster, with over 10,000 homes destroyed or damaged, resulting in the displacement of thousands of families.
In addition to the destruction of roads, bridges, health facilities, and public schools, agricultural land and livestock have also been lost.
The latest disaster struck following devastating floods in April, which claimed the lives of at least 70 people. It also resulted in the destruction or damage of thousands of homes and dozens of schools in western Farah and Herat, as well as in southern Zabul and Kandahar provinces.
The country is among the most vulnerable countries against natural disasters, including floods, earthquakes, avalanches, landslides and drought. It is also among the poorest in the world, burdened by decades of war, prone to natural disasters, and susceptible to extreme weather events associated with climate change.
This year’s heavy rainfall comes after several years of severe drought, which had a significant impact on agricultural production across the country.
These natural disasters underscore the vulnerability of the population, following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. The country is now facing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis amid shrinking international aid commitments.
The UN reports that over 23.7 million people in Afghanistan, more than half of the population, urgently need lifesaving aid this year. Despite appealing for $3 billion in funding, the organization has only received 16% of the requested amount so far.
