Spring, Heavy Rains Lead to Floods in Afghanistan

April 3, 2007— This week, thousands of people in Afghanistan have fled their homes due to floods that have wreaked havoc on houses, roads, farmland and infrastructure. With spring approaching, the onset of warm weather and unusually high levels of recent snow and rain have caused flooding and landslides in the southern, central and western parts of the country. It is reported that 88 people have been killed.

The western areas of Herat and Ghor, where many have been affected by dangerous landslides.

The dangers come from rivers overflowing their banks, and mudslides. Flooded riverbanks have covered roads and washed out bridges in several provinces. The steep hillsides of Afghanistan are especially prone to mudslides from heavy rain and snowmelt. Landslides are especially dangerous for people living in villages at the foot of steep mountains, or traveling on muddy mountain roads.

"We're finding that the devastation is mostly localized, affecting individuals and clusters of homes within villages, towns and some cities. However, if rains persist and the weather warms, the potential for a larger-scale emergency — that affecting widespread areas — is high. We’re preparing for what may come," said CRS Afghanistan Country Representative Paul Hicks.

CRS Responds

CRS is working closely with U.N. and government agencies, and our partners in Kabul, Herat and Ghor to assess the affected areas and decide on appropriate response methods.

Early this morning a 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit Badakhshan in the northeast region of the country; the shock wave was felt in Islamabad and further. No serious damage has been reported, but assessments are under way.

CRS Afghanistan has field offices in Kabul, Herat and Ghor and supports agriculture, water supply, rural infrastructure, education and enterprise development programs for tens of thousands of Afghans.