Heavy Rains Set Off Floods in Afghanistan, Death Toll Rises to 47

The recent heavy rains in Afghanistan have led to devastating floods, particularly in the country’s north, resulting in a rise in the death toll to 47, according to a Taliban spokesman. The floods, which occurred in three districts of Faryab province, caused extensive damage to homes and farmlands. Initial reports had suggested a death toll of 18, but officials clarified that these were preliminary figures.

The impact of the floods has been severe in the western province of Ghor as well, where 50 people were reported dead from Friday’s floods. The United Nations food agency highlighted Ghor as the most affected area by the floods. Last week, the World Food Program had reported that the exceptionally heavy rains in Afghanistan had claimed over 300 lives and destroyed thousands of houses, primarily in the northern province of Baghlan.

Survivors of the floods in Afghanistan are facing dire circumstances, with many left without homes, land, or a source of livelihood. Accessibility to affected areas has been a challenge, with most of Baghlan inaccessible by trucks.

This latest disaster follows a series of devastating floods in April, which claimed at least 70 lives and destroyed thousands of homes, mosques, and schools in provinces such as Farah, Herat, Zabul, and Kandahar. The repeated occurrences of such natural disasters have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, leaving communities vulnerable and in urgent need of assistance.