KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Heavy rainfall and flooding have affected more than 73,000 people across 31 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces since March 26, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest update.
In a report covering the period from March 26 to April 6, released on Thursday, OCHA stated that the floods affected 10,634 families across 165 districts and hundreds of villages, damaging homes, infrastructure, and farmland, with the eastern and southern regions among the hardest hit.
OCHA said at least 93 people were killed and 181 others were injured. Taliban authorities have reported a higher toll, saying at least 157 people were killed and 229 were wounded.
The UN agency said 9,010 homes were affected, including 1,338 destroyed and 7,672 damaged. It also said about 15,627 hectares of agricultural land were destroyed, 543 livestock were killed, around 200 kilometres of roads were damaged, and 19 bridges were destroyed or impaired.
The eastern provinces of Nangarhar, Kunar, and Laghman were among the hardest hit, with landslides also reported in some areas, blocking major roads and hindering the movement of people, goods, and aid.
OCHA said immediate priorities include emergency shelter and non-food items, debris and road clearance, restoration of safe drinking water, and protection support for people at risk from unsafe shelter conditions and explosive hazards.
The agency said it has so far reached about 8,400 people with assistance such as food, cash, emergency shelter, and hygiene support across 15 provinces. It added that humanitarian operations will in coordination with aid partners, UN agencies, and Taliban authorities to expand coverage and respond to urgent needs.
The floods follow a period of unusually intense rainfall and snowfall in parts of the country, triggering flash floods and storms that swept through villages, destroyed homes, and blocked roads, further straining already vulnerable communities.
Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including floods, droughts, and earthquakes, due to fragile infrastructure, environmental degradation, and limited disaster response capacity, particularly in remote and mountainous areas.
The latest wave of flooding comes as the country faces one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. UN estimates show nearly 22 million people require humanitarian assistance, while more than 17 million, mostly women and children, are experiencing acute food insecurity.
