Afghanistan floods kill over 30, worsen already desperate situation

Heavy rains have caused flash floods in western Afghanistan that killed over 30 people, destroyed homes and swept through makeshift shelters housing displaced families, a government official says.

Two days of flooding that started on Thursday killed 12 people in Jawzjan and two in Badghis, provinces that border Turkmenistan, said Hasibullah Shir Khani, a spokesman for Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority, on Thursday. Two others were killed in Herat and another in Sar-e Pul province, he said.

Meanwhile, another official with ANDMA said flooding killed at least 12 people in the northern province of Faryab and 10 people in the western province of Herat. He put the death toll in Badghis at eight while saying that five people also lost their lives in Balkh province in the north, adding that more than 3,000 houses had been destroyed.

Floods have destroyed hundreds of homes, some historic sites, thousands of acres of farmland, bridges and highways, said Jilani Farhad, a spokesman for Herat province.

"Hundreds of houses have been destroyed and thousands displaced," he said.

Mir Gulabuddin Miri, director of the Afghan Red Crescent in Herat, said access to some areas had been cut off, preventing teams from reaching affected people.

"The destruction is huge. Over 12 areas in the province have been badly hit, people have lost their houses. We've only been able to provide them with some food and blankets so far," he said.

Aid organization World Vision said in a statement it appeared tens of thousands of Afghans were affected. Some Badghis residents were calling it the worst storm in 20 years, it said.

The floods worsen an already desperate situation. Earlier this month, at least 20 people were killed by flash floods caused by heavy rains that swept away thousands of homes and vehicles in southern Kandahar province.

SS