The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning about the “critical” situation in northern Afghanistan after severe floods ravaged the region over the weekend.
With more adverse weather expected, the humanitarian crisis is likely to worsen.
At least 300 people have perished, particularly in Baghlan Province, as flash floods wreaked havoc.
Relief efforts have been severely hampered by the destruction of numerous roads and river flooding, leaving many areas inaccessible.
The WHO stated on Tuesday that thousands of people remain displaced and are in desperate need of food, shelter, and medical care.
The situation is exacerbated by disruptions to internet services, which have hindered accurate assessments of conditions in some of the most isolated villages.
The floods have destroyed or damaged thousands of homes, swept away livestock, and inundated large tracts of farmland.
Humanitarian organizations are struggling to reach affected areas due to the extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges.
The situation is expected to deteriorate further, with meteorological forecasts predicting more rain for Baghlan and other northern provinces in the coming days.
Various United Nations agencies have warned that the death toll could rise, as many individuals are still missing.
The ongoing severe weather poses significant challenges to both immediate relief efforts and longer-term recovery.
