In photos: Afghan forces rescue families trapped by flood waters in Kandahar

Afghan security forces have rescued about 400 families.

AFP

2019-03-04

Villagers March 2 carry sheep along a flood affected area in Arghandab District, Kandahar Province. [Javed Tanveer/AFP]

An Afghan military helicopter rescues flood survivors from atop an overturned truck in Arghandab District, Kandahar Province, March 2. [Javed Tanveer/AFP]

Afghan security forces carry children from their flooded homes in Arghandab District, Kandahar Province, March 2. [Javed Tanveer/AFP]

Afghans escaping floods are evacuated in an Afghan military helicopter from Arghandab District, Kandahar Province, March 2. [Javed Tanveer/AFP]

Afghan security forces March 2 help a woman and child after a flood hit their home in Arghandab District, Kandahar Province. [Javed Tanveer/AFP]

Afghan Air Force personnel carry children after flooding hit their homes in Arghandab District, Kandahar Province, March 2. [205th Atal Corps of the Afghan National Army/Facebook]

KANDAHAR -- Afghan National Army personnel have rescued about 400 families since flooding began late Friday (March 1) in Arghandab District, Kandahar Province, according to local officials.

At least 20 Afghans were killed by flash floods in the province, the United Nations (UN) said Saturday (March 2), as heavy rains swept away homes and vehicles and potentially damaged thousands of houses.

Rescue operations, however, were largely delayed by heavy rainfall, Raziq Shirzai, the provincial commander of the Afghan Air Force, told AFP.

Widespread flooding inundated Kandahar city and surrounding districts in the province, with 97mm of rain falling in affected areas in 30 hours, said the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

In this photo taken March 2, an Afghan Air Force crew member (right) carries a child during an evacuation in a flood affected area of Arghandab District, Kandahar Province. At least 20 Afghans were killed by flash floods in Kandahar Province, the United Nations said on March 2, as heavy rains swept away homes and vehicles and potentially damaged thousands of houses. [Javed Tanveer/AFP]

Missing children

"At least 10 people, including children, are still missing," said the UN agency in a statement.

"It is anticipated that up to 2,000 homes may have been damaged", with severe damage to infrastructure also being reported.

Kandahar deputy governor Abdul Hanan Moneeb, with many nomadic herders camped in the area swept away by the flood waters along with their livestock.

Disasters such as avalanches and flash floods often hit mountainous areas and river valleys of Afghanistan as snow melts in the spring and summer. They are made worse by deforestation.

Heavy snowfall across large swathes of Afghanistan this winter has raised fears of severe flooding as spring approaches, following years of devastating drought in the country.

Almost 50 people have been killed as of February 12 by flooding in Afghanistan, according to the UN.

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5 Comment

| 2023-02-05

Afghanistan had an organized an army, but its generals were not patriotic, and because of this, the Afghan National Army was destroyed several times. The Afghan Army always stood with its people during the accidental incidents and saved people in the plague-stricken places.

| 2019-03-18

thanks for the information.

| 2019-03-13

our real prides, our national forces.

| 2019-03-12

May God bless martyrs with Paradise. May Allah give reward to the families, and we share the sorrows with them. The government should help the people in rebuilding the destroyed houses. The national security forces are for sure angels of rescue. May they be strong, we are proud of them.