The devastating effects of heavy rain and flooding have once again struck central Afghanistan, with at least 50 people losing their lives. Mawlawi Abdul Hai Zaeem, the head of the information department for Ghor province, reported the grim toll on Saturday, highlighting the destruction and displacement caused by the deluge.
The recent rainfall, which began on Friday, has left a trail of destruction, with key roads in the area impassable and communication disrupted. In Feroz-Koh, the provincial capital of Ghor, 2,000 houses have been completely destroyed, 4,000 partially damaged, and over 2,000 shops submerged in floodwaters.
This tragedy follows another calamitous event just last week when flash floods, also triggered by heavy rains, ravaged villages in northern Afghanistan, resulting in the loss of 315 lives and injuring more than 1,600 individuals.
In the midst of rescue efforts, tragedy struck again when a helicopter from the Afghan air force crashed during attempts to recover bodies from a river in Ghor province. The crash, attributed to technical issues, claimed one life and left 12 others injured.
Afghanistan's vulnerability to natural disasters is compounded by its status as one of the countries most susceptible to climate change, according to the United Nations. The situation has been further exacerbated by a shortfall in aid, particularly after the Taliban's assumption of power following the withdrawal of foreign forces in 2021. The decline in development aid has left the government grappling with pressing challenges, including disaster response and recovery efforts, amid competing global crises and ongoing concerns over the Taliban's policies, particularly regarding the rights of Afghan women.
