The heavy rain that have fallen on Afghanistan in recent weeks have triggered a chain of floods and landslides which extends across much of the country. Afghan authorities, controlled by the Taliban, acknowledge that the number of dead and wounded continues to rise as official figures are updated and access is gained to areas that were previously isolated.
This episode of extreme weatherMarked by almost continuous torrential rains since the end of March, the storm has caused the destruction of homes, massive damage to key infrastructure, and significant agricultural losses. All of this is having a profound impact on a population already severely affected by years of conflict, economic crisis, and a shortage of basic resources, generating growing concern in the international community, including Europe, about the evolving humanitarian situation.
Victim count and extent of the floods
The various official reports published in recent days agree that the victim figures The death toll is already very high, although updates show variations as the count progresses. Several statements mention around fifty deaths, while other reports raise the figure to over sixty or even more, always with the caveat that rescue efforts continue and more tragedies could be uncovered in remote areas.
Some partial counts mention at least 61 dead people and 116 injured as a direct result of the torrential rains and flash floods of recent days. Several people are also missing, with local emergency teams searching for them in the flooded areas and the wreckage of collapsed homes.
Other data collected by the National Disaster Preparedness and Management Authority point to tolls reaching several dozen dead and more than a hundred injured, in a time interval that spans from March 26 to the first days of April. The lack of reliable communicationsRoad closures and the dispersion of rural communities make it difficult to have a single, definitive number, but local agencies insist that the human impact is already very severe.
Authorities in Kabul have also warned of the presence of Flash floods In numerous valleys and mountainous areas, rivers have overflowed their banks in a matter of minutes following periods of intense rainfall. These flash floods have caught many families by surprise in their homes and fields, which explains some of the high number of injuries and livestock losses.
Alongside the human tragedy, Taliban spokespeople emphasize that the situation could worsen if the heavy rains continue. National meteorological departments have issued warnings about the potential for continued heavy rainfall, and even about the combination of rain, snow and thunderstorms in different regions of the country during the next few days.
Most affected provinces and infrastructure damage
Floods have struck multiple provinces, from the capital to rural and border areas. Official reports detail that, in just one of the recent episodes, [number of] people were recorded. eleven dead and eleven injured in the last 24 hours in provinces such as Kabul, Paruan, Daikundi, Kapisa, Paktia, Paktika, Maidan Wardak, Ghazni, Zabul, Uruzgan, Kandahar, Herat, Badghis, Ghor, Nimroz, Samangan, Tajar, Badakhshan, Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar.
In total, around 20 of the 34 provinces Afghan communities have suffered some impact from the torrential rains, whether in the form of flooding, landslides, or damage to roads, bridges, and homes. The geographical extent of the event complicates the response, as it requires the distribution of scarce resources across widely dispersed areas.
The Kandahar region has also been the scene of severe floods and landslides caused by recent rains, with dozens of deaths and injuries reported. These conditions have swept away houses built with flimsy materials and damaged dirt roads, common in a country with limited infrastructure.
One of the elements that most concerns the authorities is the state of the road network. It is estimated that at least hundreds of kilometers of roads They have suffered significant damage, with sections completely cut off. This not only prevents the passage of emergency vehicles and trucks carrying humanitarian aid, but also makes it difficult for the population to move to safer areas or access health services.
The disruptions to communication routes also have a direct impact on the supply of essential goodsSupplies such as food, medicine, and fuel are scarce, which could worsen the emergency in the medium term. Some remote mountain and valley communities have been virtually cut off, awaiting the restoration of road access or the arrival of specialized rescue teams.
Homes destroyed and families displaced
Data collected by disaster management authorities paints a picture of widespread destruction in the housing stock. According to various official reports and statements from the Taliban government, the floods have destroyed thousands of homesleaving tens of thousands of people without stable housing.
One of the more detailed reports indicates that more than 2.400 homes Many have been totally or partially destroyed. Other reports mention around 2.500 affected homes, highlighting the magnitude of the damage in a country where many buildings are made of adobe or other fragile materials that are vulnerable to heavy rains and flash floods.
In just one 24-hour period, more than 130 homes completely destroyed and nearly 390 with partial damage, in a context where more than 1.000 families have been directly affected. Some of them have been forced to flee their homes in haste, seeking refuge in relatives' houses, public buildings, or makeshift camps in higher areas.
The internal displacements resulting from these floods add to those already existing due to other causes, such as insecurity and the economic crisis. Various Taliban spokespeople have spoken of hundreds of displaced families only in some of the most recent episodes, although without a closed census since many people try to return to their homes as soon as the water recedes enough to assess the damage.
The lack of formal shelters and durable building materials poses an additional challenge to reconstruction. Several humanitarian organizations have warned that, without sustained support, many of these families risk remaining in precarious conditions for months. exposed to cold and humidity and possible new flooding when seasonal rains return.
Impact on agriculture and food security
The Afghan countryside, the main source of income for a large part of the population, is also suffering very serious consequences. The floods have affected thousands of hectares of arable landflooding fields, washing away layers of fertile soil and destroying crops that were about to be harvested or were in full growth.
One of the reports released by Taliban spokespeople estimates the agricultural damage at around 11.000 hectares of crops affected, while other reports indicate more than 5.300 hectares seriously damaged. Although the numbers vary depending on the source and the time of the count, the common denominator is the loss of a substantial portion of local production.
In addition to crops, the following have been reported significant livestock losseswith more than a thousand head of cattle killed in some rural areas. In a subsistence economy context, where many families depend on a few animals and small plots of land, these losses represent a direct blow to their ability to feed themselves and generate income.
The destruction of irrigation infrastructure and small containment works will also have medium-term consequences. Canals, ditches and rudimentary drainage systems They have become filled with sediment or have been swept away by floods, which could hinder future agricultural campaigns if they are not repaired quickly.
All of this is happening in a country where, according to recent United Nations estimates, around 22 million people They need some form of humanitarian aid, and more than 17 million suffer from severe food insecurity. The loss of crops and livestock due to flooding exacerbates this situation, increasing the risk of hunger and malnutrition, especially among women, children, and the elderly.
Weather warnings and structural vulnerability
The Afghan Ministry of Transport and Aviation's Meteorology Department has released several reports in recent days. warnings for heavy rainSnow and thunderstorms are expected across large areas of the country. Forecasts indicate that precipitation could continue in eastern, northern, western, and central regions, with periods of heavy rain in already saturated river basins.
These alerts aim to anticipate new episodes of Flash floodsThis is a phenomenon to which Afghanistan is particularly prone due to its topography and the location of many towns situated in narrow valleys or dry riverbeds that quickly become torrents during heavy rains. However, the ability to disseminate these warnings and for the population to react in time remains limited.
Disaster management officials have been insisting for years on the structural vulnerability The country's vulnerability to these types of extreme weather events is exacerbated by weak infrastructure, widespread poverty, and a lack of modern drainage systems. These factors worsen the effects of seasonal rains, which are becoming increasingly erratic and intense, according to various international agencies.
In many cities and towns, drainage systems are insufficient or non-existent, causing water to accumulate quickly in streets and homes. Informal neighborhoodsBuilt with precarious materials and without a planned urban design, they are especially vulnerable to floods and landslides.
Several humanitarian organizations and climate experts have warned that this situation is not an isolated incident, but part of a trend in which extreme weather events Floods are becoming increasingly frequent and destructive in Afghanistan. They are calling for investments in drainage infrastructure, early warning systems, and land-use plans to reduce the population's exposure to flooding.
A disaster that comes on top of a recent earthquake
The current crisis cannot be understood without taking into account that Afghanistan has also just suffered a magnitude 5,8 earthquake in the northeast of the country. This earthquake, which was felt in Kabul and several northern and eastern provinces, caused at least eight or nine deaths, according to various accounts, all from the same family, in addition to material damage to already weakened buildings.
The concatenation of natural disasters —floods and earthquake in a short space of time— has increased the pressure on an emergency system with very limited resources. Rescue teams, health services and disaster management agencies They have had to divide their efforts among different simultaneous emergencies, which delays assistance to some communities.
Infrastructure already damaged by the earthquake, such as homes, schools, and health centers, has suffered further damage from torrential rains, increasing the risk of subsequent collapses. In urban areas, some buildings with pre-existing cracks and structural damage have been left in critical condition following the storms. persistent rains.
This double emergency highlights the Afghanistan's high exposure to extreme phenomena of both meteorological and seismic origin. The lack of earthquake-resistant building codes, modern drainage systems, and well-rehearsed evacuation plans increases the impact of each new event, leaving little room for recovery before the next crisis strikes.
International organizations and NGOs present on the ground have reiterated their calls to strengthen the humanitarian aid and technical support to the country, warning that, without sustained intervention, these disasters could have lasting effects on millions of people and encourage further internal displacement and displacement to neighboring countries.
The aftermath of the recent floods in Afghanistan is that of an exhausted country, with dozens of deaths, hundreds injured, thousands of homes destroyed, and large flooded agricultural areasMeanwhile, damaged roads are hindering the delivery of aid, and forecasts predict more rain. In this context of a chronic humanitarian crisis, an international response and improvements to infrastructure and disaster preparedness are crucial to preventing each new episode of torrential rain from triggering a tragedy of similar proportions.
