UN Teams Provide Aid After Deadly Flash Floods Hit Northern Afghanistan
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published May 13, 2024 | 09:30 AM
UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th May, 2024) United Nations humanitarian teams scrambled to get lifesaving aid to communities devastated by deadly flash floods in northeastern Afghanistan over the weekend, the UN reported Sunday.
Flash floods in the area have reportedly killed at least 300 people, including 51 children, with many more injured, with these figures expected to increase as additional reports come in, according to UN agencies.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
“The United Nations and its partners in Afghanistan are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs and provide emergency assistance,” said his spokesperson in a statement, extending wishes for a swift recovery to those injured and condolences to the families of the victims.
Most of the casualties were reported in Baghlan province, where heavy rains destroyed an estimated 3,000 houses, flooded farmland, washed away livestock, closed schools and damaged health centres.
Takhar and Badakhshan provinces were also impacted with initial reports of at least 300 houses damaged, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“UNICEF and our partners are on the ground and are making every effort to bring quick relief to the affected families and communities,” Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, said Sunday, expressing condolences to the families mourning the loss of loved ones.
A UNICEF-supported mobile health and nutrition team has also been dispatched and teams are on the ground to help conduct additional assessments.
“The heavy rains and subsequent floods have disrupted lives and pose a significant risk to children in the affected provinces,” Dr.
Oyewale said.
“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.”
Working with partners, UN agencies are already distributing aid.
UNICEF has dispatched 450 family kits, 500 hygiene kits, 476 blankets for adults and babies and 100 clothing kits alongside support provided by other UN agencies and partners.
Meanwhile, the UN migration organisation (IOM) has been distributing aid packages that include temporary shelters, essential non-food items, solar modules, clothing and tools for repairs to their damaged shelters.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is currently distributing energy biscuits to survivors of the floods, according to the agency’s post on social media on Sunday.
WFP also said this flood is one of the many events in recent weeks caused by unusually heavy rains.
UN relief chief Martin Griffiths said “this extreme weather event underscores the need for climate-resilient humanitarian efforts.”
Meanwhile, the UN relief agency, OCHA, is working with partners and national authorities to provide shelter, food and healthcare, he said in a post on X on Sunday.
Afghanistan is among the 10 most vulnerable countries to climate change and 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.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Weather update: Temperature may rise upto 44 Celsius today
Muqam lauds IOM services for Afghan refugees in Pakistan
PM commends Norway’s decision to recognize Palestine
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 27 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 27 May 2024
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 May 2024
Rizwan or Imad: PCB mulls over vice-captaincy candidates ahead of T20 WC 2024
Saboor Aly gets Dubai’s Golden Visa
Pakistan elect to bowl first against England in second T20I match
Shaheen Afridi declines vice-captaincy role for T20 World Cup 2024
Former Provincial Minister Ibrahim Murad’s Efforts Boost Pakistan’s Meat Exp ..
More Stories From World
-
Papua New Guinea reports more than 2,000 people buried in landslide
11 minutes ago -
Bangladesh cyclone toll rises to 10, around 30,000 homes destroyed
11 minutes ago -
South Korea, China, Japan vow to ramp up cooperation in rare summit
11 minutes ago -
Five dead after storms tear through U.S. Texas
20 minutes ago -
Tennis: French Open results - collated
20 minutes ago -
Newgarden wins Indianapolis 500 for Team Penske
21 minutes ago
-
State of emergency in New Caledonia to be lifted: presidency
21 minutes ago -
11th Int'l festival for Drums and Traditional Arts kicks off in Cairo
21 minutes ago -
Death toll from Brazil floods hits 169
31 minutes ago -
Over 488,000 dengue cases reported in Argentina in first 5 months
31 minutes ago -
More than 2,000 people buried under landslides in Papua New Guinea
41 minutes ago -
5.2-magnitude quake hits Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia -- GFZ
41 minutes ago