Kabul, 17 August 2006. Recent floods
have left many communities in the eastern provinces of Afghanistan with
human losses and severe damages. According to recent figures from UN agencies,
more than 30 people have been killed and thousands left homeless. The floods
caused by heavy rains have washed away houses, livestock and farmland,
and emergency assistance has been requested by the Afghan Government.
'The floods have hit areas where people
are already struggling to manage their lives and livelihoods. Many of the
flood affected communities, which DACAAR is now trying to support through
emergency aid, are well known to us as we are there implementing rural
development programmes as well as the Afghan Government's National Solidarity
Programme. It is devastating to see how many of these people who are struggling
to improve their basic livelihoods, have now lost everything,' says Erik
Toft, director of DACAAR.
DACAAR has offered its assistance in the three provinces of Ghazni, Laghman and Paktia. In Paktia Province, blankets, clothes, plastic mats and family kits, provided by UNHCR, have been distributed by DACAAR. Upon request from local government representatives in Ghazni Province, DACAAR will provide material (600 gabion sheets) for river and canal protection walls to mitigate further damages. Likewise in Laghman Province, DACAAR in collaboration with the local government is assessing needs to provide emergency assistance. In some districts, DACAAR's water supply engineers will assist in the rehabilitation of drinking water supplies and proper chlorination of contaminated safe water resources.
Further information:
Director Erik Toft Kabul, Afghanistan
Tel.: +93 (0) 799 55 79 82 E-mail: erik.toft@dacaar.org
Public Information Officer Alexandra
Strand Holm Kabul, Afghanistan
Tel.: +93 (0) 799 33 77 53 E-mail: a.strand.holm@dacaar.org
RDP Section Head Mohammad Asif Oria Kabul,
Afghanistan
Tel.: +93 (0) 799 30 88 78 E-mail: m.asif@dacaar.org
Public Information Assistant Mariam Alimi
Kabul, Afghanistan
Tel.: +93 (0) 70 06 75 31 E-mail: mariam.alimi@dacaar.org