KUNDUZ CITY (SW) – Flash floods have caused massive destruction on a large scale in Kunduz province, locals and officials told Salam Watandar.
Arbab Hashim, a resident of the Dasht-e-Archi district in Kunduz, says that the heavy and destructive floods on Friday caused significant financial losses not only to him but also to many other residents of the district. He, who lost three of his shops due to the floods, said: “The damage has been extensive; I have suffered a loss of about one and a half to two million afghanis. 50 houses were swept away by the flood. The flood came around 6:10 AM after the morning prayer. It was very dangerous and widespread. The financial damages have been huge; but fortunately, there have been no casualties.”
Gul Agha, another resident of Dasht-e-Archi whose house was destroyed in the floods, said: “Our house has been completely destroyed; the flood took everything with it, and now we are out of our house. We have gone to my uncle’s house, but life here is also difficult.”
These residents of Dasht-e-Archi district say that the government and humanitarian organizations have not yet provided any assistance, and they are in a very dire situation.
Meanwhile, Hamidullah Sadat, the head of the media department of the Afghanistan Red Crescent Society in the northeastern region, says that their relief team has been sent to assess the damage and assist the flood-affected people of district. According to their data, more than 25 houses have been completely destroyed, and 70 houses have been partially damaged, while hundreds of acres of land have also been affected.
He said: “Emergency aid was supposed to be sent to the area, but floods recurred in the districts of Aliabad and Khanabad, and some people in these areas were also affected. The relief team has been dispatched again, and God willing, coordination for further assistance is underway.”
Jalal and Shah Wali, two residents of the “Lala Maidan” village in Aliabad district, Kunduz, say that due to the heavy rainfall the previous night, devastating floods have hit their village and caused significant financial losses.
Shafiullah Jawad, the head of the Natural Disaster Management Department in Kunduz, acknowledged that the floods in the Aliabad district have caused major damage to three villages. He states: “Around 250 houses have been destroyed, and approximately 500 to 600 acres of agricultural land have also been affected. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.”
Meanwhile, officials from the Natural Disaster Management Department in Kunduz report that floods have also affected several villages in the Khanabad district of the province, but no information about casualties and financial losses has been released yet. The victims are suffering from a lack of shelter, food, drinking water, and health services, and they are calling for immediate assistance.
