Flooding triggered by recent heavy rains across Afghanistan has killed and injured hundreds of people, destroyed thousands of homes and left more than 73,000 others affected, according to the United Nations.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the floods have struck more than 30 provinces, damaging homes, farmland and critical infrastructure, and deepening an already fragile humanitarian situation.
The agency warned that protection risks are rising sharply in affected areas, with nearly 14,000 people — particularly women and girls — at risk of gender-based violence. Limited access to services and resource shortages have made it difficult to respond adequately, despite efforts to provide psychosocial support, documentation and awareness programs.
Most of those displaced have sought shelter with relatives, while others are living in the open, the agency said. About 72 percent of affected families are staying with host communities, reflecting both the scale of displacement and the lack of formal shelter options.
The floods have been particularly acute in eastern and southeastern provinces, where damaged roads and infrastructure have made it harder to deliver aid and increased the vulnerability of affected populations.
According to UN assessments, more than 7,600 homes have been destroyed and over 15,000 acres of agricultural land damaged, disrupting livelihoods in a country where much of the population depends on farming.
Despite the scale of the disaster, humanitarian access remains limited. Aid agencies have assessed 98 districts so far, but only about 12,000 people have received assistance, leaving many without immediate support.
The floods have also compounded economic hardship, with aid officials warning of rising poverty, debt and psychological distress among affected families.
The United Nations Population Fund said the disaster has severely disrupted access to health and protection services, particularly for women and girls, who already face significant barriers. Access to reproductive health care has been especially affected, the agency said.
Afghanistan’s disaster management authority, under Taliban administration, has reported higher casualty figures, saying that nearly 200 people have been killed and more than 250 injured in floods, landslides and related disasters, which started on March 26.
The latest flooding highlights the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, as well as the limited capacity to respond to large-scale natural disasters amid economic challenges and strained public services.
