For the past few days, Afghanistan has been hit hard by heavy rains, resulting in harmful tragedy for people. The country’s disaster management department reported on Wednesday that approximately 70 individuals lost their lives due to the relentless downpours. These rains have caused significant damage and devastation across various provinces.
The severity of the situation has been exacerbated by an unusually dry winter that left the land parched and vulnerable. As a result, the soil was ill-prepared to absorb the sudden influx of water from the spring rains, leading to widespread flash flooding in certain areas.
According to Janan Sayeq, a spokesman for the disaster management department, in addition to the lives lost, 56 people have been injured in the aftermath of the heavy rains.
Moreover, over 2,600 houses have been damaged or completely destroyed, leaving many families homeless and in dire need of assistance. The agricultural sector has also been severely impacted, with approximately 95,000 acres of farmland washed away by the floods.
Initially, most of the fatalities were attributed to roof collapses caused by the deluge. However, as the situation unfolded, it became clear that the consequences of the heavy rains were far more widespread and devastating than initially thought.
Afghanistan’s neighboring country, Pakistan, has also been grappling with similar challenges brought about by spring downpours. The storm-related incidents in Pakistan have claimed the lives of 65 individuals, highlighting the widespread impact of the extreme weather conditions in the region.
The United Nations had previously warned about Afghanistan’s vulnerability to extreme weather events. Events, citing the country’s lack of preparedness after decades of conflict and instability. Scientists have also underscored the role of climate change in exacerbating these weather extremes, making them more frequent and severe.
This incident adds to the string of weather-related disasters that Afghanistan has faced in recent months. This also includes a deadly landslide triggered by heavy snowfall in February and a spate of precipitation-related incidents in March.
The government and humanitarian organizations are now faced with the daunting task of providing assistance and relief to those affected, while also addressing the broader challenges posed by climate change in the region.
Comments