The aftermath of catastrophic floods in Baghlan, Afghanistan has left a trail of devastation, with the death toll soaring to 154, according to local authorities.
Reports indicate that over 250 individuals have sustained injuries in the disaster, which has also ravaged approximately 20,000 acres of vital agricultural land and obliterated hundreds of residential homes.
Alam Majidi, spokesperson for the governor of Baghlan, conveyed the grim reality, stating, “The death toll has currently reached 154 martyrs, and we have 250 injured. These are preliminary figures and the numbers might increase.” However, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation presented even more staggering statistics, reporting 315 fatalities and over 1,600 injuries.
Amid the chaos, families affected by the deluge are grappling with the slow distribution of aid, urging authorities to expedite assistance. Raz Mohammad, a flood survivor, recounted the harrowing experience, lamenting the loss of loved ones: “When the flood came, there were seven of us who climbed to higher ground; but the flood swept everyone away, and afterward, when I counted, one person was missing.”
Zabihullah stressed for urgent need for shelter and essentials for those rendered homeless: “For those whose homes have been destroyed, there must be provision of new homes and the necessities should be provided.” The anguish of families, like Khair Mohammad’s, who are desperately searching for missing relatives, underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis: “Two of my nephews are missing; we have been searching for them for three days, but they have not yet been found.”
Adding to the distress, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) disclosed that the recent floods, which have inundated northeastern provinces, claimed the lives of at least 240 individuals, including 51 children. The scale of devastation underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the immediate needs of survivors and initiate long-term recovery plans in the affected regions.
