’11 children killed by floods’

According to some data, 256 people have died so far due to heavy rains, 75% more than the previous year. As in neighboring Pakistan, for which has launched a fundraising campaign, the situation is dire and complicated by a lack of funds. Aid workers fear the imminent arrival of winter.

Kabul () – Not only Pakistan but also neighboring Afghanistan has suffered the consequences of floods in recent weeks. On August 25, the Taliban-led government announced that at least 180 people had died due to flooding; including 11 children, added UNICEF. According to other data, the death toll from these cataclysms is 256 people in the months of 2022, which represents an increase of 75% compared to last year. Heavy rains swept away more than 3,000 homes and killed thousands of livestock, deepening the country’s humanitarian and economic crisis.

“The province of Nangarhar, in the eastern region, and the province of Logar, in the central part of the country, were the most affected,” Veronica Houser, from the Unicef ​​​​Afghanistan communication team, explains to . “Paktika and Khost, the two provinces that suffered from the earthquake in June, have also suffered the consequences of the recent floods,” added the humanitarian operator. There is talk of 2,300 families, which is equivalent to more than 16,000 people in Nangarhar, and 3,000 families in Logar, that is, about 20,000 people.

Unicef ​​​​Afghanistan immediately mobilized to be present on the ground: “We have deployed 10 mobile units that provide health and nutrition services to mothers and children, including first aid, trauma care and vaccinations for the little ones. We are bringing clean and drinkable water to communities that do not have access to safe natural sources -continues the operator-, we distribute hygiene kits as well as ‘family kits’ that include kitchen utensils. With our collaborators, we are also resuming community education classes that were suspended with the floods, so that children can continue learning despite the circumstances.”

This dramatic situation adds to the humanitarian catastrophe that occurred after the Taliban reconquest of Afghanistan on August 15 last year: “In the rest of the country, UNICEF aims to reach 15 million people this year, including eight million children, with humanitarian assistance. Our priorities include treating children with severe acute malnutrition, vaccinating against measles, providing clean water, and helping children resume learning. Our goal is not only to save human lives today, but also to guarantee long-term help to communities.”

However, access to financial resources remains very difficult: “International sanctions, the suspension of funding and donor conditionalities have brought crucial systems such as health services, which have always depended on donations, to the brink of collapse. external. This is having a devastating effect on families, burdened by hunger and poverty, “continues Houser. A United Nations Security Council resolution establishes sanction exemption for humanitarian aid, but the latest appeal launched by Unicef ​​to raise a record $2 billion to date has received only 40% of the necessary financing. And, notes Houser, “with winter just around the corner, we’re especially concerned.”

In recent days, has decided to expand the AN05 campaign – already active in support of brick factory workers in Pakistan – to help the population of Pakistan affected by the floods. Anyone can offer their help by making an online donation at this linkor through any of these channels, ALWAYS INDICATING THE CAUSE AN05 EMERGENCY PAKISTAN:

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