KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The National Disaster Management Authority of Afghanistan, now under Taliban control, says that with 22 deaths recorded in the past 48 hours, the total number of casualties from natural disasters across the country has risen to 179.
Taj Mohammad Hemat, deputy spokesperson for the authority, said today (Saturday, April 11) in a video message that the number of injured has also increased to 238, while nine others remain missing.
He added that as a result of these incidents, 7,047 houses have been completely or partially destroyed.
The deputy spokesperson further stated that natural disasters have also destroyed 372 kilometers of roads, 352 water networks and wells, 9,940 trees, 2,339 solar panels, and 185 shops, while 1,323 livestock have been killed.
He added that, in total, these disasters have affected 8,987 families.
These casualties and damages have been recorded across the country from the sixth day of the current solar month until now.
In the past two weeks, various provinces of Afghanistan have witnessed heavy rainfall and flooding.
Heavy rains and floods occur every year in different provinces of the country, causing widespread casualties and damage; however, effective measures to prevent or reduce these losses have not yet been implemented.
Beyond the immediate destruction, these incidents also reflect broader environmental challenges facing the country.
Afghanistan has experienced several consecutive years of reduced rainfall and severe drought, largely driven by climate change. While some areas have seen snowfall and rainfall this winter, overall precipitation levels are still considered below the long-term average.
This latest drought compounds a pattern of recurring water crises in Afghanistan. According to a report by ACAPS, the country has endured eight major droughts since 1969, including catastrophic events in 2018 and 2021 that affected over 11 million people. Ongoing groundwater depletion is threatening millions more.
Furthermore, the continuation of such devastating natural disasters highlights the country’s vulnerability to climate-related risks, raising serious concerns about disaster preparedness, infrastructure resilience, and the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian response efforts.
