At least 50 people have been killed and thousands of homes destroyed after heavy rains and flooding devastated central Afghanistan's Ghor province. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
Torrential seasonal rains have caused flash floods, killing hundreds and leaving thousands injured across Afghanistan. In Ghor province, 50 people have been confirmed dead, with dozens more missing.
The floods have destroyed thousands of homes, hundreds of hectares of agricultural land, and thousands of trees. Over 2,000 houses were completely destroyed, 4,000 partially damaged, and more than 2,000 shops were under water in the province's capital, Firoz Koh.
The Taliban's Ministry for Refugees reported a death toll of 315 from flooding in northern Afghanistan, with over 1,600 people injured. Afghanistan is prone to natural disasters and is considered one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
Survivors are lacking adequate humanitarian aid, leaving them without homes, land, or livelihoods. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said most of Baghlan, the worst-hit province in the north, was inaccessible by trucks.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is working with Afghan and international NGOs to assess the situation and provide emergency services, including temporary housing facilities for those displaced.
The flooding has caused widespread destruction, and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed. The people of Afghanistan are in need of urgent support and aid to recover from this devastating disaster."
