Attachments
Date of event
03-03-2024
What happened, where and when?
An unusually late winter season aected several provinces in Afghanistan, bringing heavy snowfall and severe cold temperatures. In response, the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) convened an Emergency Task Force Meeting on 3 March 2024. During this meeting, ndings from rapid assessments were shared, and potential interventions were discussed with local partners. Reports indicated that high-altitude provinces experienced casualties, signicant livestock losses, road blockages, and disruptions to economic activities.
The DREF allocated CHF 352,000 for Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA), accounting for 70 per cent of the total DREF budget.
Further assessments highlighted the extensive impact of the cold wave, with the National Disaster Organization reporting that approximately 325,205 people were aected across at least 18 provinces. Thousands of livestock losses were also recorded, severely undermining livelihoods. The hardest-hit provinces included Badakhshan, Badghis, Balkh, Farah, Faryab, Ghor, Herat, Jawzjan, Kunduz, Nuristan, Nangarhar, Sar-e-Pul, Uruzgan, and Zabul.
The March 2024 cold wave mirrored the January 2023 event but had more severe consequences. ECHO reported temperatures plummeting to -33 degrees Celsius in Ghor, resulting in the loss of over 70,000 cattle and 70 human lives. Nuristan was particularly aected, still recovering from a landslide caused by heavy snowfall, which claimed 25 lives, destroyed 20 homes, and displaced 350 households.
The humanitarian needs were substantial, requiring long-term interventions to strengthen community resilience, particularly in Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction.