May 19th 2024.
The people of Maimana in Faryab Province, Afghanistan are facing the aftermath of devastating floods. The heavy rains have caused flash floods, resulting in the loss of at least 150 lives. The torrential downpour hit four districts in Faryab on Saturday night, leaving behind a trail of destruction. As reported by the Taliban, 18 more people lost their lives in the same province on Friday.
The situation is dire as the floods have not only claimed lives but also caused significant damage to property. Around 1,500 homes have been completely or partially destroyed, leaving many families homeless. The floods have also washed away hundreds of acres of farmland and killed over 300 animals. The western province of Ghor has been hit particularly hard, with 50 reported deaths from Friday's floods. One resident in Firozkoh, the capital of Ghor, described the floods as "huge and horrible," causing them to lose everything. Fortunately, they were able to evacuate to safety after being warned by officials and mosque loudspeakers.
The toll in Faryab Province alone has reached 84, according to Zahir Zahid, who witnessed the destruction of his own house. He recounted the heartbreaking scene of women and children crying as they lost everything to the flood. This disaster adds to the already devastating impact of heavy rains in Afghanistan. Last week, the World Food Programme reported that the unusually heavy rains have claimed over 300 lives and destroyed thousands of homes, mostly in the northern province of Baghlan.
The consequences of these floods are severe, leaving many without a roof over their heads or a source of income. The WFP stated that a significant number of people have been left with no homes, land, or livelihood. This tragedy comes just weeks after another round of floods in April, which killed 70 people and destroyed 2,000 homes in western Farah and Herat, as well as southern Zabul and Kandahar provinces.
To make matters worse, Afghanistan has been struggling with extreme weather conditions for some time now. In addition to the floods, the country has also been hit by a long period of drought earlier this year. As a nation heavily reliant on agriculture, the effects of climate change have been particularly devastating for Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the country is not well-equipped to handle these challenges, as it has been isolated from the rest of the world since the Taliban regained control in 2021.
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