by In a tragic onslaught of nature’s fury, more than 200 lives were claimed by flash floods that rampaged through various Afghan provinces, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair. The United Nations sounded the alarm on Saturday, painting a grim picture of the aftermath, as authorities scrambled to initiate rescue operations amidst a declared emergency.
The calamity unfolded with heavy rains on Friday, unleashing torrents of water and mud that indiscriminately swept through villages and agricultural lands across several provinces. Among the hardest-hit regions was northern Baghlan, where the toll was particularly staggering. The UN’s International Organization for Migration grimly reported the loss of over 200 lives in Baghlan alone, with thousands of homes either destroyed or severely damaged.
In the district of Baghlani Jadid, devastation reached unprecedented levels, with up to 1,500 homes obliterated and a death toll surpassing a hundred, as confirmed by Mohammad Fahim Safie, the National Programme Officer overseeing IOM’s emergency response. The tragedy took a disproportionate toll on vulnerable segments of the population, with at least 62 women and children perishing in the flash floods, according to local officials.
Despite initial reports from Taliban authorities indicating a lower death toll, subsequent assessments revealed the true extent of the disaster. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid lamented the loss of “hundreds of our fellow citizens,” emphasizing the dire need for immediate assistance.
Beyond Baghlan, the wrath of the floods extended to other provinces, wreaking havoc in northeastern Badakhshan, central Ghor, and western Herat. Emergency teams mobilized swiftly to rescue the injured and stranded, as the defense ministry orchestrated a multi-branch response to aid the affected areas.
As the weather cleared, the air force initiated evacuation operations, ferrying over a hundred injured individuals to hospitals. The Ministry of National Defense, recognizing the gravity of the situation, declared a state of emergency and launched efforts to distribute essential supplies, including food, medicine, and first aid, to the impacted populace.
The recent deluge compounds the woes of a nation already grappling with the repercussions of climate change. With approximately 80 percent of its population reliant on agriculture for sustenance, Afghanistan faces mounting challenges exacerbated by erratic weather patterns. Despite its resilience in the face of decades-long conflict, the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters underscores the urgent need for comprehensive adaptation measures in an era of escalating global warming.
