UNICEF Aiding Families Devastated By Flash Flooding In Afghanistan

UNICEF is providing urgently needed emergency assistance to families swamped by heavy rains and flash floods in Afghanistan.

Homes destroyed, lives disrupted in a flash

Unseasonably heavy rains and flash flooding are destroying homes, latrines and farmland, washing away livestock, temporarily closing schools and damaging health centers in Afghanistan.

To date, at least 240 people have been killed, including 51 children, and hundreds more injured. Most of the casualties were reported in Baghlan province, northern Afghanistan, where over 3,000 homes have been destroyed in eight districts. Rising water levels continue to be reported in six Baghlan districts.

“Let me express our heartfelt condolences to the families mourning the loss of loved ones,” said Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan. “UNICEF and our partners are on the ground are making every effort to bring quick relief to the affected families and communities.”

UNICEF emergency response teams are working to meet families' urgent needs, providing water trucking and distributing hygiene kits, family kits with essential household and cooking equipment, baby blankets, warm clothing and tarpaulins to those most affected. UNICEF is also distributing multipurpose cash assistance through its Rapid Response Mechanism.

UNICEF emergency response teams are rushing aid to children and families

Plans are underway to scale up ongoing health, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), education, nutrition and child protection services, social and behavior change (SBC) guidance and emergency cash transfer interventions in the affected areas.

UNICEF's May 20 situation report details emergency response efforts to date in northern Afghanistan, including:

Health: UNICEF-supported health teams have treated more than 11,400 people, 48 percent of whom are children. UNICEF continues to provide health care services via mobile health and nutrition teams and in tents set up to provide reproductive and child health services.

WASH: UNICEF has reached more than 22,000 people with safe water through water trucking. An average of 330,750 liters of drinking water is being distributed daily. Hygiene kits, soap, buckets and jerry cans have been distributed to 1,500 people.

Nutrition: UNICEF and partners are screening and treating children for severe malnutrition. Prior to the flooding, UNICEF had pre-positioned nutrition supplies including 959 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), enough to restore the health of 1,000 severely malnourished children.

Education: UNICEF has dispatched high-performance tents, floor mats and education supplies for use in community-based education classes and 23 public schools to help children continue their studies and maintain a sense of normalcy.

Cash assistance: 3,000 households in three of the most affected districts (Baghlani Jadid, Burka and Guzargah Noor) will receive a one-time payment of $312 to cover basic needs for a period of two months.

Mental health support: 900 people, 70 percent of whom are children, have received mental health and psychosocial support and information on wellbeing and explosive ordnance risk education.

Families caught in a sudden catastrophe

Like many others, 8-year-old Deen Mohammed's family were caught by surprise when flash flooding tore through their village in Baghlan-e-Jadid District, Baghlan Province, taking their house and all their food, along with the lives of many friends and neighbors. In his village alone, more than 50 people died and 80 were injured. Many have lost their homes and are now living in tents or doubling up with neighbors whose houses are still standing.

“The flood swept away my father and younger brother and I thought I would never see them again.”

"We were sitting in our home when it started," said Deen Mohammed. "Our family rushed to use the ladder and get onto the roof. We were holding the Holy Quran and praying as we cried for our lives.

"The flood swept away my father and younger brother and I thought I would never see them again. I am really happy that they survived the flood with the help of our neighbors. But the flood took our whole home and everything we had to eat — our rice, beans and bread."

A rise in extreme weather conditions compounds existing risks for children

Afghanistan is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The country has been experiencing a rise in extreme weather conditions, notably floods, drought and sand and dust storms, resulting in the loss of lives and livelihoods and significant damage to infrastructure.

“The heavy rains and subsequent floods have disrupted lives and pose a significant risk to children in the affected provinces," said Dr. Oyewale. "As families cope with the loss, maintaining access to safe water, health and protection services is paramount. As always, UNICEF stands with the children and people of Afghanistan during this difficult time."

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