Thousands of flood survivors in central Afghanistan’s Ghor Province are grappling with severe aid shortages after catastrophic floods wiped out their homes and livelihoods. Among them is Mohammad Hassan, who embarked on a three-day journey in worn-out sandals to reach a relocation site, only to face uncertain prospects.
“Heavy rains-triggered flash floods washed away everything – houses and farmland; there was no place left for us to live,” Hassan recounted. “Six hundred families lived in our village, among whom 500 families were affected severely. We were forced to leave our village and relocate here.”
Hassan, the sole provider for his 10-member family, hails from a remote area of Ghor Province. In mid-May, the province was struck by flash floods that resulted in at least 50 fatalities and destroyed more than 2,000 homes, according to the local disaster management authority.
The relocation site, situated on a mesa about 8 kilometers away from Firoz Koh, the provincial capital, is scattered with tents of varying sizes. Some were distributed by the local government, while others were purchased by the flood survivors with borrowed money.
“We lost everything. Now we live in this tent, but we have little food and no means to earn a living,” Hassan said, his gaze fixed on the barren landscape. “We desperately need assistance to rebuild our lives.”
The survivors are struggling with aid shortages, lacking basic necessities such as food, clean water, and medical care. Many, like Hassan, have no means to earn a living and are relying on borrowed resources to survive.
As the affected communities wait for relief, the resilience of survivors like Hassan underscores the urgent need for sustained humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan’s flood-hit regions.
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Flood survivors in central Afghanistan struggle with aid shortages
cgtn.com
