Heavy seasonal rains caused flash flooding in a northern Afghan province, killing at least 50 people and leaving many others missing on Friday, The Associated Press reported, citing Taliban officials.
The toll from the floods in Baghlan province is likely to rise, officials said, according to The AP, and the floods also affected Kabul, the capital, which is in the south of the province. Many homes were destroyed and rescue teams were bringing food and aid to affected areas, the AP reported.
In recent years, Afghanistan has been experiencing a terrible economic crisis, faced a series of natural disasters, and faced the turmoil of war and clashes with its neighbor, Pakistan.
This year’s wet conditions are due in part to the El NiƱo phenomenon, increasing the risk of flooding, which hampers crop production and the flow of food supplies, particularly in the north and northeast of the country, the Committee said. Rescue International in a statement last month. week.
Flash floods triggered by heavy rain inundated much of Afghanistan last month, killing more than 100 people, destroying more than 1,000 homes and ruining more than 60,000 acres of farmland, the group said.
Damage to roads, bridges and electrical infrastructure could hamper the delivery of humanitarian aid there, he said.
“Any additional flooding will have a detrimental impact on large sections of the population,” he added, “who are already recovering from economic collapse, high levels of malnutrition and conflict.”