Floods in Afghanistan have claimed approximately 350 lives, including numerous children, and have caused damage to over 7,800 homes, leaving more than 5,000 families displaced. In response, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been on the ground, providing critical assistance to the affected communities.
UNICEF has mobilized extensive support for tens of thousands of children impacted by the disaster. The floods, primarily affecting the regions of Baghlan, Badakhshan, and Ghor, have resulted in loss of life and widespread destruction.
Recent reports indicate that the floods have claimed approximately 350 lives, including numerous children, and have caused damage to over 7,800 homes, leaving more than 5,000 families displaced. In response, UNICEF has been on the ground, providing critical assistance to the affected communities.
UNICEF’s immediate relief efforts include the provision of safe drinking water and hygiene kits containing essential items such as soap and toothbrushes. These kits are crucial in preventing the outbreak of diseases in flood-affected areas. Additionally, UNICEF has conducted hygiene sessions to educate civilians on proper handwashing techniques and safe water storage practices amid the ongoing natural disaster.
Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, emphasized the urgency of international support, stating that global communities must “redouble efforts and investments to support communities to alleviate and adapt to the impact of climate change on children.”
Beyond immediate relief, UNICEF’s aid strategy encompasses a range of supportive measures. The organization has provided cash assistance to help families meet their basic needs and deployed health and nutrition teams to care for the injured and ill. Furthermore, UNICEF has distributed warm clothing, blankets, and essential household items to families who have lost their possessions in the floods.
The recent floods stress an "intensifying climate crisis," according to UNICEF, with increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events causing substantial loss of life, livelihoods, and infrastructure damage. Oyewale stressed the necessity for UNICEF and other humanitarian agencies to prepare for this “new reality of climate-related disasters.”
“The growing number and severity of extreme weather events will require UNICEF and other humanitarian actors to step in with even more rapid and large-scale humanitarian responses,” Oyewale explained.
She highlighted the need for strengthened preparedness measures, including pre-positioning of emergency supplies and enhanced coordination with partner organizations.
Oyewale also pointed out the importance of aiding communities in adapting to climate and environmental shocks to reduce their reliance on humanitarian aid. This includes prioritizing the unique needs of children in decision-making processes and investing in essential services that safeguard children’s futures.
UNICEF’s 2021 Children’s Climate Risk Index ranks Afghanistan 15th out of 163 nations, indicating that children in Afghanistan are particularly vulnerable to climate and environmental shocks. Despite this high vulnerability, Afghanistan contributes minimally to global climate change.
Heavy rainfall should not spell disaster for Afghan children, Oyewale asserted. “We need to prioritize the unique needs of children in decision-making and address these needs now to protect children from future disasters while simultaneously investing in the basic services they rely on,” she urged.
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