Flooding in Afghanistan Leaves 315 Dead and 1,600 Injured

Officials in the Nahrin district of Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan reported on Sunday, May 12, that sudden floods caused by heavy rains that began on Friday have devastated several villages in northern Afghanistan. According to reports, the floods have so far left 315 dead and over 1,600 injured. After the heavy rains, torrents of water and mud swept through villages and agricultural lands in several provinces, and many residents of the flooded areas have gone missing, with no news of their fate. While villagers bury their dead, aid agencies have warned of the expanding devastation and described it as a humanitarian emergency. Reuters reported, citing the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Refugees, that thousands of homes have been damaged and livestock has been lost. Rescue teams have stated that access to some areas has been cut off due to rising floodwaters. Mohammad Yaqoob, who lost 13 family members, said, 'We have no food, no drinking water, no shelter, no blankets, nothing; the flood has destroyed everything.' In his village, only two or three of the 42 houses remain, and the entire valley has been devastated. Din Mohammad Hanif, the Taliban's Minister of Economy, issued a statement urging the United Nations, humanitarian agencies, and private companies to support the flood victims. Arshad Malik, the director of Save the Children in Afghanistan, said, 'Lives and livelihoods have been destroyed. Flash floods swept through villages, destroyed homes, and killed livestock.' Malik estimated that 310,000 children live in the affected districts. The British publication The Guardian reported, citing the World Food Program, that Baghlan province has suffered the most damage. Ranaa Daraz, the communications officer for this program in Afghanistan, reported the destruction of 2,011 homes and damage to 2,800 other rural houses. Flooding in Pakistan has claimed the lives of 550 people. The United Nations has raised alarms, stating that the humanitarian aid situation in Afghanistan is 'critical.'