Emergency response teams faced significant challenges on Sunday in reaching the hardest-hit areas of northern Afghanistan following flash floods, with the death toll climbing to 315 and heavy rains displacing thousands of people.
The province of Baghlan in northern Afghanistan bore the brunt of the devastation, making aid delivery difficult due to severe damage to roads and bridges caused by the floods.
In Sheikh Jalal, a location severely impacted by the floods and located about two hours from Burka, aid trucks filled with food, military vehicles, rescue workers, and local residents were stranded due to washed-out roads.
Military personnel used heavy machinery to clear paths and assist aid trucks stuck in mud.
Mohammad Ali Aryanfar, part of a team from the Turkish Hak Humanitarian Relief Association attempting to reach Burka with food supplies, described the challenges encountered in Sheikh Jalal, expressing hope that they would soon be able to reach the affected area.
“People’s homes have been destroyed, and they are left without shelter,” Aryanfar said.
According to government reports on Sunday, the flooding in Baghlan resulted in 315 fatalities and left over 1,600 people injured. More than 2,600 homes were damaged or destroyed, and approximately 1,000 cattle perished.
The World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed a death toll of over 300 in Baghlan due to the floods.
