KABUL: Severe weather conditions, including heavy rain, storms, and floods, have wreaked havoc in Afghanistan and Pakistan for over two weeks, leading to the tragic loss of at least 188 lives, as reported by disaster officials from both countries on Tuesday.
In Afghanistan, which is grappling with a serious humanitarian crisis, the harsh weather has resulted in 123 fatalities since March 26, according to Mohammad Yousuf Hammad, the spokesman for the national disaster management authority. He mentioned that between Sunday and Tuesday, there were 46 deaths reported across various provinces.
In a heartbreaking incident in Ghazni province, a newborn baby lost its life when the family car fell into a flooded ditch while returning from the maternity ward on Monday. Thankfully, the parents survived.
In Parwan province, a mother and her child were killed when their house roof collapsed under the weight of rain and subsequent snowfall. Additionally, in Nangarhar province, which includes the capital Jalalabad, eight people tragically died when their house roofs gave in during the night between Monday and Tuesday.
In northern Pakistan, the death toll has climbed to 47, with 27 of those being children, as reported by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial disaster management agency. In Balochistan province, at least 18 people have lost their lives since March 20.
The relentless storms have caused extensive damage, including blockages on major roads. Afghanistan is frequently hit by destructive floods and landslides, especially in remote regions with vulnerable infrastructure.
The country, already one of the poorest globally due to decades of conflict, is particularly vulnerable to climate change, which experts believe is intensifying extreme weather events. In Pakistan, around 652 homes have suffered damage, with roughly 100 completely destroyed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In Afghanistan, floods have cut off a key road leading to the Iranian border since Monday. Truck drivers have been stranded in the desert, facing hunger and thirst while waiting out the situation. One driver, Khalil Ahmad Qaderi, mentioned that the high cost of fuel made it challenging to turn back.
The Afghan military has mobilized helicopters to conduct rescue operations, and the World Food Programme is distributing food aid across several provinces in Afghanistan to assist those affected.
