1. Home
  2. Asia
  3. Afghanistan

Afghan floods, avalanches leave 20 dead

Flash floods killed at least 10 people and destroyed hundreds of houses in different parts of Kandahar Province, southern Afghanistan, on 7 February, according to the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS).

Eleven others, including six women and one child, were killed by avalanches in Farah, Bamyan, Ghor and Daykundi provinces over the past four days, the Afghanistan National Disasters Management Authority said.

“We do not have the resources to assist flood-affected families,” Najibullah Barith, ARCS’s director in Kandahar, told IRIN, adding that the provincial authorities had summoned an emergency meeting to discuss responses on 8 February. He said Shah Wali Kot and Shorandam districts were worst affected.

Afghanistan is prone to natural disasters such as floods, avalanches and drought which seriously affect about 400,000 people every year, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

ad/cb

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

Share this article

Hundreds of thousands of readers trust The New Humanitarian each month for quality journalism that contributes to more effective, accountable, and inclusive ways to improve the lives of people affected by crises.

Our award-winning stories inform policymakers and humanitarians, demand accountability and transparency from those meant to help people in need, and provide a platform for conversation and discussion with and among affected and marginalised people.

We’re able to continue doing this thanks to the support of our donors and readers like you who believe in the power of independent journalism. These contributions help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.

Show your support as we build the future of news media by becoming a member of The New Humanitarian. 

Become a member of The New Humanitarian

Support our journalism and become more involved in our community. Help us deliver informative, accessible, independent journalism that you can trust and provides accountability to the millions of people affected by crises worldwide.

Join