KABUL, Afghanistan — The death toll from Tuesday’s flooding in southern Afghanistan has risen to 17, sources told Amu on Wednesday. The number of deaths in Kandahar increased to 11 from nine, while in Helmand it rose to six from one. At least 16 others have been injured across the two provinces.
Flooding has also devastated parts of Farah province in western Afghanistan. According to local sources, floods hit several districts, including Qala Ka, Bakwa, Pushtkoh, Gulistan, and Farah Rod. At least 24 people have died and 31 others have been injured, with women and children among the victims.
A resident of Farah described the destruction, saying floodwaters carried people, including women and children, for nearly 500 meters before slamming them against rocks. “The weather was extremely cold,” he said.
In Helmand, another resident, Raz Mohammad, said heavy rain has destroyed mud houses, leaving families without shelter. “Our living conditions are terrible, and we don’t even have food to eat,” he said. “No one has helped us rebuild our homes.”
Former President Hamid Karzai urged businesses and humanitarian organizations to provide immediate aid. The Taliban-controlled National Disaster Management Authority also called on aid groups to assist affected families, saying it is prepared to respond to the crisis.
However, disaster management experts have criticized Taliban authorities for failing to implement preventive measures and responding too slowly to natural disasters. Some international organizations, including the United Nations, have previously reported that Taliban restrictions—especially the ban on women working with foreign aid groups—have made it harder to assist affected families in times of crisis.
