UNITED NATIONS, May 12 (APP): United Nations humanitarian teams scrambled to get lifesaving aid to communities devastated by deadly flash floods in northeastern Afghanistan over the weekend, the UN reported Sunday.<\/p>\n
Flash floods in the area have reportedly killed at least 300 people, including 51 children, with many more injured, with these figures expected to increase as additional reports come in, according to UN agencies.<\/p>\n
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe United Nations and its partners in Afghanistan are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs and provide emergency assistance,\u201d said his spokesperson in a statement, extending wishes for a swift recovery to those injured and condolences to the families of the victims.<\/p>\n
Most of the casualties were reported in Baghlan province, where heavy rains destroyed an estimated 3,000 houses, flooded farmland, washed away livestock, closed schools and damaged health centers.<\/p>\n
Takhar and Badakhshan provinces were also impacted with initial reports of at least 300 houses damaged, according to the UN Children\u2019s Fund (UNICEF).<\/p>\n
\u201cUNICEF and our partners are on the ground and are making every effort to bring quick relief to the affected families and communities,\u201d Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, said Sunday, expressing condolences to the families mourning the loss of loved ones.<\/p>\n
A UNICEF-supported mobile health and nutrition team has also been dispatched and teams are on the ground to help conduct additional assessments.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe heavy rains and subsequent floods have disrupted lives and pose a significant risk to children in the affected provinces,\u201d Dr. Oyewale said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs families cope with the loss, maintaining access to safe water, health and protection services is paramount. As always, UNICEF stands with the children and people of Afghanistan during this difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Working with partners, UN agencies are already distributing aid.<\/p>\n
UNICEF has dispatched 450 family kits, 500 hygiene kits, 476 blankets for adults and babies and 100 clothing kits alongside support provided by other UN agencies and partners.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the UN migration organisation (IOM) has been distributing aid packages that include temporary shelters, essential non-food items, solar modules, clothing and tools for repairs to their damaged shelters.<\/p>\n
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is currently distributing energy biscuits to survivors of the floods, according to the agency\u2019s post on social media on Sunday.<\/p>\n
WFP also said this flood is one of the many events in recent weeks caused by unusually heavy rains.<\/p>\n
UN relief chief Martin Griffiths said \u201cthis extreme weather event underscores the need for climate-resilient humanitarian efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the UN relief agency, OCHA, is working with partners and national authorities to provide shelter, food and healthcare, he said in a post on X on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Afghanistan is among the 10 most vulnerable countries to climate change and has been experiencing a rise in extreme weather conditions, notably floods, drought and sand and dust storms, resulting in the loss of lives and livelihoods and significant damage to infrastructure.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, May 12 (APP): United Nations humanitarian teams scrambled to get lifesaving aid to communities devastated by deadly flash floods in northeastern Afghanistan over the weekend, the UN reported Sunday. Flash floods in the area have reportedly killed at least 300 people, including 51 […]<\/p>\n
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