Flash flooding by heavy and unseasonal rainfall affects more than 3,400 people in Afghanistan

Key Highlights

• Heavy and unseasonal rainfall across large parts of Afghanistan on Tuesday, 3 May has caused flash
flooding directly affecting over 485 families (approximately 3,400 people) in Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan,
Bamyan, Faryab, Hirat, Jawzjan, Kunar, Kunduz, Samangan and Takhar provinces. The number of affected
people is expected to increase as assessments are completed.

• Local reports indicate that at least 13 people have died in Badghis (five), Baghlan (four), Hirat (one), Kunduz
(one) and Parwan (two) provinces with a further eight people injured in Parwan (four) and Takhar (four), and
an unconfirmed number of families internally displaced. Some 1,270 houses have also been either destroyed
(437) or damaged (833). Inter-agency assessment and response teams have been mobilized to assist
affected families with nearly 3,400 people assessed and over 1,000 supported with temporary shelter and
food assistance so far. Other immediate relief items to be provided include: multipurpose cash, tents,
emergency latrines and shelter kits as well as water, sanitation, hygiene, and health services.

Situation Overview

Between 3 and 4 May, localized flooding caused by heavy rainfall was reported in 11 villages of Dahana-e-Ghori
district, Baghlan province; three villages of Eshkmesh district, Takhar province; two districts (Shinwari and Sia
Gird) of Parwan province; Khanabad district of Kunduz province; Jorm district of Badakhshan province; Qadis
district of Badghis province; Ghoryan and Obe districts of Hirat province; and Waras, Panjab and Kahmard
districts of Bamyan province. Parts of Faryab, Kunar, Jawzjan and Samangan provinces were also reportedly
affected.

According to initial information, approximately 13 people were killed and eight people were injured by the flooding
and around 1,270 houses either destroyed or damaged. An unconfirmed number of families have also been
temporarily displaced and are being accommodated by relatives in neighbouring districts. Livestock was also
reportedly killed and injured (nine killed and one injured in Kunar); agricultural land destroyed, and provincial
roads damaged in Bamyan and Jawzjan provinces due to encroachment of gravel/land slips. Roads were also
blocked in Pule-Hairan village in Keshem district, Badakhshan. On May 5, heavy flash floods in Khinjan district
of Baghlan province destroyed the Gazan bridge, which connects Kabul to nine provinces in the north and
northeast.

Joint assessment teams have been mobilized, and de-facto authorities, supported by Afghanistan’s National
Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), are leading the response in collaboration with humanitarian partners.

Humanitarian Impact

To date, 3,381 people (798 people in Badghis, 994 people in Baghlan, 1,022 people in Hirat, 476 in Faryab, 41
in Kunar, and 50 in Samangan) have been assessed to have been directly affected by the floods, however it is
likely that many more have been indirectly impacted due to the destruction of acres of agricultural crops. Floodaffected people in other provinces are currently being assessed, and affected families require assistance
including food, shelter, household items, and WASH support. Longer-term shelter repairs are also expected to
be necessary.

Already in 2022, over 30,000 people have been affected by natural disasters in Afghanistan including more than
5,000 people affected by flash flooding.

Flash flooding by heavy and unseasonal rainfall affects more than 3,400 people in Afghanistan
Source: Philippines Legacy PH