Afghanistan Flash Floods Situation Report No. 8 as of 1800h (local time) on 22 May 2014

Highlights

• The number of flood affected is about 125,000 people in 27 provinces in 123 districts, an increase of about 10,000 since the last report.

• New smaller-scale floods have occurred in Balkh, Ghor, Kandahar and Hilmand with initial reports of relatively low numbers of people affected.

• Jawzjan, Faryab, Sar-e-Pul, Baghlan and Balkh remain the five most affected provinces, accounting for over three quarters of all flood affected.

• About 6,800 houses have been destroyed, and a further nearly 7,600 damaged.

• Sufficient relief stocks remain in country for the response. Relief distributions have been completed in 80% of all affected districts. Assessments and distributions are ongoing in the most-recently affected districts.

• A gap has been identified in responding to the water, sanitation and hygiene needs for the flooded Pul- i -Khumri city, where the main drinking water supply pipes have ruptured.

• The immediate focus is now on providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene solutions to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases and planning the rehabilitation and rebuilding of damaged and destroyed homes, infrastructure and livelihoods.

• Constraints on access remain due to damaged roads. There are no material changes on security related access.

Situation Overview

The number of new flooding incidents has largely deceased since the last report. New smaller floods have occurred in Balkh, Ghor, Kandahar and Hilmand provinces, with initial reports of relatively low numbers of people affected, i.e. less than 100 families in each province. Additional reports on flood events that occurred prior to 16 May were received for 9 new provinces in the south, central and east regions (see table).

Assessments recently completed in the hardest hit provinces, namely Jawzjan and Faryab, reported a substantial number of houses damaged and destroyed. In these two provinces alone, approximately 2000 houses were damaged and 3200 houses were destroyed.

The highway in Khulm district, Balkh, was reopened. Supply chain between Kabul and Mazar is now working. However, access still remains a challenge due to roads damaged by the floods and security related issues.