On May 10th and 11th, 2024 the Northeast region of Afghanistan was hit by a flash flood. Days later, on May 17th and 18th, the Northern and Western regions of Afghanistan also experienced flash flooding. As a result of these devastating floods, more than 300 people died and over 10,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Flash flooding was once again reported at the end of June 2024, impacting the Baghlan province in Northeast Afghanistan. This is especially disastrous, as this province was the hardest hit in the earlier flooding, accounting for approximately 75% of the destruction and nearly all the casualties. *
There has been widespread loss of livelihoods and significant damage to public infrastructure including health services, schools, water and sanitation facilities, roads, and bridges. According the the UNHCR, more than 2,200 acres of land have been damaged in the Western region and over 5,500 individuals supporting their families have lost their ability to do so in the Northern and Northeastern regions.
Widespread flooding has impacted Afghanistan since March 2024 due to a dry winter and heavier than normal rainfall totals. These factors combined with unseasonably warm weather, have resulted in the increased melting of snow in the mountains and have created the perfect scenario for flash flooding to occur.
Immediately after the flooding occurred, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, was on the ground working to provide direly needed aid. UNHCR delivered emergency tents to flood-affected families that lost their homes, providing immediate shelter. Other aid provided included NFI kits (non-food items) and clothing assistance to ensure families have access to essential and basic household items linked to improved health, hygiene, and protection outcomes for families. NFI kits are composed of blankets, jerrycans, gas cylinders, kitchen sets, buckets, soap, and other key items. UNHCR and its partners have also initiated comprehensive a protection response to ensure services reach those in need, including the provision of psychosocial first aid, group support, identification of vulnerable individuals and persons with specific needs *
The Khaled Hosseini Foundation made a $50,000 grant to UNHCR to help them in their flood relief efforts. In part, this support helped in providing the below (as reported by UNHCR):
over 2,215 people have been assisted with protection services in the western region since the outset of the emergency
in the Northeast region, more than 619 emergency tents were provided, 1,115 NFI kits were handed out, and 1,898 sets of clothing were distributed
in the Northern region, 149 emergency tents and 504 NFI kits were distributed
in the Western region, 150 emergency tents were provided, 652 NFI kits, and 797 sets of clothing were distributed
more than 6,413 families received assistance such as tents, tarpaulins, blankets, multipurpose cash assistance, clothing and other essential support
While this doesn't delineate all the aid provided by UNHCR, it gives an idea of both the immeasurable need and the difference the aid made to the flood victims. Even though the flood waters have long since receded, the damage they left behind has not diminished. The UNHCR reports that more than 6,100 families require support to repair their homes and another 3.750 families need help rebuilding their homes.
Across the world, children are getting ready to go back to school this fall. In the flood affected regions, children who used to attend school in a tent are now relegated to sitting outside with no protection against the elements. The teacher for the students pictured, Abdul Wahid Samadi, told the UNHCR that he is determined to continue classes as long as he can in an effort to provide routine and structure for children trying to process surviving the flash floods.
* excerpt and data from UNHCR
Photo credit: photo 1 and 5 - UNHCR/Caroline Gluck; photo 2 - UNICEF/Amin Meerzad; photo 3 - UNHCR/Mujeeburrahman; photo 4 - UNHCR/Wahid Ahmad Enayat
Comments