UN Reports Widespread Damage and Casualties from Floods in Nuristan, Afghanistan
The Taliban’s Disaster Preparedness Department has reported that recent floods in Nuristan province have resulted in at least 23 deaths and over 100 people missing. According to the department’s deputy spokesperson, 15 bodies have been recovered so far, and 80 people have sustained injuries. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with the possibility of changes in casualty figures.
The United Nations World Food Programme stated that the severe and sudden floods in eastern Afghanistan have caused not only loss of life but also destruction of homes, transportation routes, and vital infrastructure, leaving local communities facing extensive damage. The agency is working with its partners to assess the urgent needs of those affected and to plan emergency aid delivery.
Earlier, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that heavy rainfall and flash floods in the eastern part of the country have led to fatalities among residents and damage to homes and agricultural lands. Bruno Lemarquis, the new Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Afghanistan, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and noted that humanitarian partners are providing assistance to those affected.
Nuristan province, located in the mountainous east of the country, has frequently experienced deadly floods in recent years, with its vulnerable infrastructure consistently viewed as a major challenge.
