POL-E-KHOMRI (SW) – The deadly flash floods in Baghlan province have left an agonizing trail of destruction where death toll continued to rise and stranded families longing for help.
The families affected by the recent floods in Baghlan say that the floods have taken away everything from them and they do not have the very basic needs of life. They say they urgently need shelter, food and health services.
Jamila, who was affected by the flood in Baghlan, said: “The flood came, and I lifted my children on the wall and saved them. It took everything from me. I have nothing. I have no food left.”
Shamsuddin, another victim of the floods, told Salam Watandar that if the people and aid organizations did not help him, he might have died of hunger after surviving the floods. “I request for help and to bring us food, shelter as we are all poor people. There is nothing left.”
According to the numbers given by the local officials of Baghlan, thousands of houses have been destroyed as a result of floods in ten districts of this province.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), told Reuters on Sunday that 310,000 children have been affected and at least 51 have lost their lives in the devastating floods in the north of Afghanistan.
12-year-old Shafiqullah, a resident of Baghlan, who lost four members of his family in the floods, says: “When I went out, there was a massive flash flood, I came home, the door and the walls collapsed, I held the tree tightly, the flood entered the house, my brother and my mother was sick, they were taken away by the flood.”
Jawid, another resident who is also affected by the floods, said, “I am a worker. I went to work early in the morning. By the time I came back, the house and the walls had been washed away. Five members of my family were taken away by the flood, my wife and four children, my children were eight years old, five years old and three years old.”
Alam Majidi, the spokesperson of the governor of Baghlan, says that about 7000 houses have been completely and partially destroyed in this province due to floods. “Nearly ten districts were damaged, 154 people died, 250 were injured. There is no exact number yet about the missing individuals, the numbers are changing, more than 4,000 houses were destroyed and 2,500 were partially damaged.
In addition, the officials of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) say that the rescue operation and the process of providing aid to the flood victims is still ongoing.
According to Baghlan officials, tents have been distributed to the victims in the central Baghlan and Burka districts of this province and food items are also distributed to them every day.
It should be noted that the European Union has so far assisted 97 tons of medicine and medical equipment to the flood victims in Afghanistan.
