In Afghanistan's Baghlan province, devastating flash floods have struck approximately eight districts, resulting in the tragic loss of more than 300 lives, with the death toll steadily climbing. Numerous villages now find themselves completely cut off, facing dire circumstances.
Heart-wrenching scenes have unfolded as villagers carry their loved ones to cemeteries. One mourner recounted to Reuters, "The flash floods destroyed all our houses. I lost 13 members of my family, including women and children. So many livestock have been destroyed as well."
Reports on the death toll vary: the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 315 deaths, 1,630 injuries, 665 destroyed homes, and 1,000 livestock deaths. Meanwhile, the NC4 agency cited more than 347 deaths, 2,500 homes destroyed, and another 2,800 damaged. The number of missing persons remains unknown.
WHO stated, "The disaster has claimed the lives of more than 300 individuals, with several others still missing and many left homeless. Hundreds remain trapped in their homes beneath debris and mud." Despite ongoing rescue efforts, many areas remain inaccessible.
The floods have left vast expanses barren, communities in ruins, and survivors in desperate need of assistance. Villagers are facing shortages of food, drinking water, shelter, and blankets. Six villages are completely isolated, prompting the country to deploy Air Force helicopters for relief operations.
The situation is compounded by the outbreak of waterborne diseases, as health facilities struggle to function. U.N. relief workers are resorting to using donkeys to deliver food and medication due to impassable roads.
The loss of livestock has further exacerbated the villagers' plight, severely limiting their ability to seek sustenance, medicine, and higher ground. The Afghanistan Minister of Refugees has underscored the urgent need for humanitarian aid in flood-affected provinces.
The region, already reeling from prior floods and heavy rains, now faces an even graver humanitarian crisis as communities strive to recover and reconstruct.