KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that recent heavy windstorms, rains, and floods in eastern, northeastern, and central Afghanistan have resulted in at least 129 deaths and around 202 injuries.
In its recent report, the IOM highlighted that the heavy rains and floods on July 15 and 16 impacted at least 22 districts across eight provinces, including Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kabul, Kunar, Kapisa, Laghman, Nangarhar, and Ghazni.
According to the report, approximately 811 families, comprising 4,349 individuals, mostly women, have been affected, and 640 houses have either been destroyed or damaged.
“Across all affected provinces, households are in immediate need of food, shelter, health and WASH services, including clean drinking water. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services are also required for the most affected families,” IOM said.
Afghanistan has been grappling with incessant heavy rains and flooding in recent months, resulting in the deaths and injuries of hundreds 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 heavy rains on July 15 and 16, along with storms and flash floods primarily affecting the eastern and northern provinces of Afghanistan, have resulted in numerous casualties, predominantly among women and children.
Earlier, Save the Children reported that the climate disaster in eastern Afghanistan has displaced at least 1,500 children. The organization warned that 1.36 million people, including over 800,000 children, are still living in the disaster-affected region.
The hardest-hit area is around Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, which is still recovering from devastating floods that occurred roughly two months ago.
Similarly, heavy rains and flash floods in April and May have resulted in over 500 deaths and nearly 2,000 injuries in Afghanistan, according to a UN report. The disaster has affected approximately 80,000 people, with more than 10,000 homes either destroyed or damaged, leading to the displacement of thousands of families.
IOM says that that its teams are on the ground in the affected areas, assessing needs, deploying additional teams from Kabul, and distributing relief items.
“From 16 July 2024 to date, IOM has deployed 21 mobile teams for assessments and provision of Shelter/NFI, health, WASH, and CCCM services,” the organization said. “IOM has provided direct assistance to 980 disaster-affected individuals in six provinces who benefitted from health services including MHPSS, and CCCM support,” it added.
