At least 50 people have died in flooding following heavy rain in Afghanistan’s northern province of Baghlan on Friday, a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior said, adding that the death toll may rise.
Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qaniee informed Reuters about flooding in over five Baghlan districts. Families stuck there require urgent assistance.
He added that two heavy storms had been predicted for Friday night.
“The Ministry of Interior has sent teams and helicopters to the area, but due to a shortage of night vision lights in helicopters, the operation may not be successful,” he said.
Last month, around 70 people were killed by heavy rains lashing Afghanistan, according to the government’s disaster management department.
Afghanistan was parched by an unusually dry winter that had desiccated the earth, exacerbating flash-flooding caused by spring downpours in most provinces.
Disaster management spokesman Janan Sayeq had said “approximately 70 people lost their lives” due to the rains.
Fifty-six others were injured, he had said, while more than 2,600 houses were damaged or destroyed and 95,000 acres of farmland wiped away.
The United Nations last year warned that “Afghanistan is experiencing major swings in extreme weather conditions”.
In the aftermath of northern Afghanistan flooding, coordinated efforts are essential to facilitate recovery and reconstruction. Government agencies, humanitarian organizations, and local authorities must collaborate to provide essential services and support to affected communities.
Furthermore, long-term initiatives focusing on sustainable development and climate resilience are critical to build the resilience of vulnerable regions. By tackling vulnerability’s root causes, we can mitigate future flooding disasters. Consequently, safeguarding northern Afghanistan’s inhabitants becomes achievable.
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