Afghanistan Floods: Flash Update #2 - Floods hit Eastern and Northeastern Afghanistan, 21 July 2024

Highlights

• Humanitarian partners are ramping up response efforts following heavy windstorms, severe rainfall and flash floods that struck multiple districts of Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kunar, Laghman, Nangarhar and Nuristan provinces in eastern and northeastern Afghanistan on 15 and 16 July.
• To date, the number of reported casualties has increased to 58 fatalities and 380 injured.
• So far, joint assessment teams (JATs) have assessed 1,925 affected families across Nangarhar, Kunar, and Laghman provinces; further assessments are ongoing.
• The number of tents destroyed in the Omari camp near the reception center at the Torkham border crossing point has increased from 400 to 550. Severe damage has also been sustained to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities.
• Across all affected provinces, households are in immediate need of food, shelter, health and WASH services, including clean drinking water. Protection and health risks are a concern for those residing in the open/under makeshift shelters. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services are also required for the most affected families.
• On 19 July, the Minister of Refugees and Repatriation visited the Torkham zero-point, transit center, and reception center and handed over eight Chinese government-donated vehicles (two ambulances, two water trucks, two pickup trucks, and two Mazda mini trucks) to the Torkham de-facto authority commission. He further initiated the installation of new tents to replace those damaged by the recent storm and assured the reconstruction of all damaged areas in the reception center.
• Humanitarian partners noted cash distributions by the state minister for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) of AFN 100,000 each to 27 families who lost relatives and between AFN 10,000 and 50,000 to the injured persons, based on injury severity.

Overview

On 15 and 16 July, heavy windstorms, rains and flash floods in the eastern and northeastern regions of Afghanistan impacted at least 29 districts across Badakhshan (Jorm district), Baghlan (Guzargah Noor district, Khwaja Hijran), Kunar (Asadabad, Bar-Kunar, Dare-e-Pech, Khas Kunar, Marawara, Shigal, Sirkani and Watapur districts), Laghman (Alingar, Alishang, Badpakh, Dawlatshah, Mehtarlam and Qarghayi districts), Nangarhar (Achin, Bati Kot, Behsud, Chaparhar, Haska Mina, Jalalabad, Momandara, Rodat and Surkhrud districts) and Nuristan (Kamdesh, Mandul and Wama districts) provinces. JATs have confirmed initial reports of extensive damage and destruction of private properties, civilian infrastructure and agricultural land, with some areas still experiencing outages due to power line damage.

Among all affected provinces, Nangarhar Province has experienced the most significant impact with 50 fatalities, 350 injuries and 351 families in need of shelter. Fatalities and injuries were also confirmed in Kunar and Laghman provinces, while in Badakhshan, Baghlan and Nuristan provinces initial information indicates that damage and destruction have been limited to homes, agricultural land and civilian infrastructure.

Confirmed damage at the Omari camp near the reception center at the Torkham border crossing, which serves as a main entry point for Afghan returnees – including 419.900 who have arrived since September 2023 – has increased to 550 tents and severe impact on WASH facilities, including broken lighting systems in female facilities, destroyed solar panels, damaged shower containers (including water heaters), toilets, and hygiene promotion screens.