Highlights/key priorities

Heavy rains have caused flooding six provinces; Kandahar, Kunar, Zabul, Nimroz, Hirat and Farah.

In Kandahar, ANSF rescued 1,200 flood-affected people with air support.

An estimated 85 per cent of Farah city has been flooded.

Situation Overview

As of 3 March, 10 people are reported to have been killed as a result of floods in Kandahar, Kunar and Farah provinces. Almost 500 houses have also been damaged or destroyed by floods in Kandahar, Kunar, Zabul and Hirat. Infrastructure including schools, mosques and bridges have also been damaged.

In Kandahar, eight people are known to have died and 18 people have been injured, as of 3 March. A further 10 people, including children and those from the Kochi (nomadic) community, are still missing, while more than 1,000 people stranded by the flood waters have been rescued by ANSF. Over the last 30 hours, 100mm of rain has fallen, and there has been further damage to schools, and revenue and attorney offices with documents damaged or lost.

In Arghandab district alone, an estimated 1,500 families have been affected by the floods; the majority of the affected people are from the Kochi community. Affected people have lost household items and livestock.

In Farah, Korji, Qala-e-Ghulam Sediq, Police Districts 1, 2, 3, Hanif Abad, Shaikh Abad and Anar Dara districts have been most severely affected by flooding following heavy rains on 2 March. Reportedly, a large number of houses have been swept away, and 500 families have been displaced and have been relocated to a temporary camp (Teacher Training Institute), where they are being supported PDMC and private sector, with a mobile health team assessing their health needs. ANSF has reportedly undertaken rescue operations to relocate people trapped by the flood waters.

Reports suggest that 85 per cent of Farah city has been flooded and the majority of roads are closed, hampering movement throughout the city. Local authorities and private construction companies are working to remove the debris caused by the floods and re-open the roads. The highway between Hirat and Farah is reportedly flooded and two cars travelling on that road were swept away by flood waters. As a result of the floods, telecommunications are down, hampering communication between flood-affected people, local authorities and humanitarian partners.

In Hirat, flooding has been reported in Shindand, Zawol, Zirkoh, Pashtunzarghun and Obe districts. In Shindand 200 houses have reportedly been swept away. The full extent of the damage in other affected districts is still being assessed.