Afghanistan Floods: Flash Update #1 - Floods hit Northeastern Afghanistan (12 May 2024)

Highlights

• On 10 and 11 May, heavy rainfall and flash floods struck northeastern Afghanistan, affecting 21 districts across Badakhshan (5), Baghlan (10) and Takhar (6) provinces.

• To date, 180 people have been confirmed killed and 242 injured, with 8,975 homes destroyed or damaged.

• Among the most affected districts are Burka and Baghlani Jadid in Baghlan Province where 80 per cent of deaths have been recorded. Search and rescue operations are ongoing with the support of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, and casualty figures are expected to rise.

• Significant damage has been sustained to civilian infrastructure and agricultural land. In Baghlan Province, at least six public schools and 10,200 acres of orchards have been destroyed, 2,260 livestock killed, and 50 bridges and 30 electricity dams damaged. Roads across all three provinces have also been rendered inaccessible slowing down joint assessment teams (JATs).

• To date, 14 JATs have been deployed across the region — two in Badakhshan, nine in Baghlan and three in Takhar Province. Additional teams will be deployed in the coming days as roads are cleared.

• Authorities and communities are urgently requesting multi-sectoral assistance, including emergency shelter and non-food items (NFIs), medical supplies, food, cash, safe drinking water and hygiene kits. Additional support and equipment are required in the form of machinery and fuel for debris clearance, as well as ambulances/vehicles to transport victims to local health facilities.

• The weekend’s rains have caused the largest flooding event in Afghanistan so far this year. Already in 2024, 30,055 people (4,095 families) have been affected by floods across the country, mainly in the southern and western regions.

Overview

On 10 and 11 May, heavy rainfall led to fast-flowing water and flash floods in northeastern Afghanistan affecting 21 districts across Baghlan (Baghlani Jadid, Burka, Dahnai Ghori, Doshi, Guzargah Noor, Jelga, Khost, Nahrin, Puli Khumri and Tala wa Barfak), Badakhshan (Darwaz, Kishem, Tagab, Teshkan and Yawan) and Takhar (Chall, Farkhar, Ishkamish, Kalafgan, Namak Ab and Taluqan) provinces.

Initial reports indicate 180 fatalities and more than 240 injuries across the three provinces. Among the victims, 51 were children and 50 were women. Furthermore, 8,975 homes were either destroyed or damaged leaving thousands without shelter. In addition to damage and destruction to roads, bridges, and public schools, eleven health facilities across Baghlan (8) and Takhar (3) provinces have been affected disrupting health and nutrition services, and 4,260 livestock have been lost.

In Baghlan Province, 73 fatalities and 76 injuries have been confirmed in Baghlani Jadid district where 1,500 houses have been verified as damaged or destroyed, while in Burka district 70 deaths and 150 injuries have been confirmed, along with damage to 5,000 homes. Elsewhere, 13 deaths were reported across Dahnai Ghori (1), Guzargah Noor (3), Jelga (3), Narin (2) and Puli Khumri (4) districts where 1,612 homes were reportedly destroyed or damaged. A further 603 homes were reported as such in Khost (53) and Tala wa barfak (500) districts.

In Takhar Province, 24 people were reportedly killed across Chall (12), Ishkamish (7), Farkhar (3) and Namak Ab (2) districts, with 14 injured and a further seven missing. More than one hundred homes were also reportedly destroyed or damaged – the vast majority in Chall and Ishkamish districts.

In Badakhshan Province, Teshkan district has been the most affected with 200 homes, 50 bridges and 30 electricity dams destroyed or damaged and 2,000 animals killed.