A village in Kunar hit by recent floods. File photo.
Natural disasters killed 679 people and injured 1,634 others across Afghanistan over the past year, according to figures released by the Taliban-run Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority on the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.
ANDMA said 44,918 families were affected by disasters during the period, with thousands of homes destroyed or damaged and extensive losses to agricultural land and public infrastructure.
According to the authority, 4,470 houses were completely destroyed and 17,664 others were partially damaged. It said 496 shops were destroyed and another 397 were partially damaged.
The disasters also destroyed 101 mosques, 28 schools and three clinics, according to ANDMA. The authority reported that 3,808 springs and canals, 1,746 kilometers of roads, 95 electricity networks and 195 bridges and culverts were destroyed.
Agriculture also suffered significant losses. ANDMA said crops on 72,874 jeribs (14,575 hectares) of agricultural land and 10,438 jeribs (2,088 hectares) of orchards were lost, while 6,856 solar panels were destroyed.
The authority did not provide a breakdown of the casualties and damage by individual disaster or province in the figures released for the international observance.
Assistance to affected families
ANDMA said it and partner organizations distributed food and nonfood assistance to 237,198 affected and vulnerable families over the past year.
Another 383,133 families received cash assistance totaling more than 1.868 billion afghanis (about $28.7 million), according to the authority.
However, several members of families affected by recent floods and an earthquake in eastern Afghanistan have told Amu TV that they continue to live in tents and have not received the assistance they say they need.
Some of the families said their homes were destroyed or badly damaged and that they continue to face difficulties securing adequate shelter and other basic necessities.
ANDMA said it repaired or reconstructed 2,050 homes damaged by disasters and implemented 196 projects aimed at reducing disaster risks.
The authority also said 387,177 people received information on disaster risks, prevention and emergency preparedness.
ANDMA reported signing 139 memorandums of understanding with national and international organizations with a combined value of about $79.65 million.
Mines and unexploded ordnance
ANDMA also released figures on mine clearance and efforts to address the risks posed by unexploded ordnance.
The authority said 141.65 square kilometers of land were cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance over the past year.
It said more than 1.96 million people received information about the risks posed by mines and unexploded ordnance, while more than 1.7 million awareness materials, including emergency contact information, brochures and booklets, were distributed.
According to ANDMA, 2,776 calls to a mine-action emergency hotline resulted in the discovery and destruction of 9,775 mines and items of unexploded ordnance.
ANDMA acknowledges continuing challenges
Despite the assistance and prevention efforts it reported, ANDMA acknowledged that significant challenges remain in managing disaster risks across Afghanistan.
The authority cited vulnerability to floods, landslides and other natural hazards, as well as shortages of resources and equipment. It also pointed to difficulties accessing some areas by road, low levels of public awareness in some communities and the need for stronger coordination among responsible agencies and partner organizations.
ANDMA said its future plans include expanding preventive projects in vulnerable areas, strengthening emergency preparedness and response systems, increasing public awareness and training, and expanding mine-action programs.
The authority also said it plans to improve coordination with national and international organizations and strengthen efforts to identify and assess disaster risks.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed annually on Oct. 13 to draw attention to efforts to reduce communities’ exposure and vulnerability to disasters.