Afghanistan: Floods, Landslides and Earthquake - 2013 (as of 25 April)

[Kojima]

(1) Afghanistan: Floods and Landslides [ReliefWeb; 25 April 2013]

In the first week of February 2013, heavy rain and snowfall across Afghanistan caused considerable damage, leaving 10 people dead and hundreds of houses destroyed. More than 1,200 families were displaced. Areas in the Central and Western Regions are among the worst hit. (OCHA, 10 Feb 2013)

By the end of February, more than 1,600 families had been affected, 26 people had been killed, and about 425 homes had been damaged or destroyed in 15 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces. (USAID, 28 Feb 2013)

As of mid-April, over 70 weather-related incidents have been recorded throughout Afghanistan (IOM Weekly Summary Reports).

Heavy rain and flash floods starting on 24 Apr killed at least 17 people in the northern Balkh province. Hundreds of homes and thousands of acres of agricultural lands were destroyed. Submerged roads hamper the relief operations in the affected areas. (ECHO, 25 Apr 2013)

(2) Afghanistan: Districts Affected by Natural Disasters (1 January - 21 April 2013) [ReliefWeb; 21 April 2013]

Natural disaster incidents include avalanches, extreme winter, flooding, heavy rainfall, landslides & mudflows, and extreme weather (sandstorms, hail, wind, etc).

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(3) Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP) Weekly Summary Report; From 31 January to 17 April 2013

* Afghanistan: HAP Weekly Summary Report 11 April 2013 - 17 April 2013

During the reporting period 12 natural disaster incidents were reported.

Flood

* Afghanistan: HAP Weekly Summary Report 4 April 2013 – 10 April 2013

During the reporting period 4 natural disaster incidents were reported.

Flood

* Afghanistan: HAP Weekly Summary Report 28 March 2013 - 3 April 2013

During the reporting period 6 natural disaster incidents were reported.

Heavy rainfall, Heavy snowfall

* Afghanistan: HAP Weekly Summary Report 21 March 2013 – 27 March 2013

During the reporting period 9 natural disaster incidents were reported.

Heavy rainfall, Hail

* Afghanistan: HAP Weekly Summary Report 7 March - 13 March 2013

During the reporting period no new natural disaster incidents were reported

* Afghanistan: HAP Weekly Summary Report 28 February 2013 – 6 March 2013

During the reporting period 7 natural disaster incidents were reported.

Heavy rainfall, Heavy snowfall

* Afghanistan: HAP Weekly Summary Report 22 - 27 February 2013

During the reporting period 6 natural disaster incidents were reported.

Heavy rainfall, Landslide

* Afghanistan: HAP Weekly Summary Report 14 - 20 February 2013

During the reporting period 2 natural disaster incidents were reported.

Heavy rainfall, Heavy snowfall and Harsh winter

* Afghanistan: HAP Weekly Summary Report 7 – 13 February 2013

During the reporting period 3 natural disaster incidents were reported.

Heavy rainfall, Heavy snowfall and Harsh winter

* Afghanistan: HAP Weekly Summary Report 31 January – 6 February 2013

During the reporting period 23 natural disaster incidents occured.

Heavy rains causing Flash floods

(4) Afghanistan: Earthquake Affected Districts (Damage Update 25 April 2013) [ReliefWeb; 26 April 2013]

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* Afghan quake and floods kill 38: officials [ReliefWeb; 25 April 2013]

KABUL, April 25, 2013 (AFP) - A powerful earthquake and flash floods which struck Afghanistan this week killed at least 38 people and damaged hundreds of homes, the presidential palace said Thursday, offering aid to victims.

Wednesday's quake killed 17 and injured 126 in the eastern province of Nangarhar while 300 homes were damaged, a statement said. In neighbouring Kunar province, one person was killed, four injured and 45 homes damaged.

The continuing flash floods in the northern province of Balkh have killed 20 and damaged 1,900 houses, it said.

Floods had also cost lives and damaged property in Ghor and Baghlan provinces, the statement said without giving any figures. President Hamid Karzai had ordered emergency help for victims, it added.

The quake centred in Nangarhar caused widespread damage in some villages because most of the houses are built of mud. Provincial government spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai put the death toll there at 16 but said it may rise.

At an emergency meeting Thursday, the private sector and relief agencies agreed to provide emergency aid and the central government also offered assistance, he said.

Mud-built homes were also no match for raging floodwaters in Balkh.

"The badly affected areas are impoverished villages where most of the homes are mud-built and can be easily damaged when floods come," said provincial government spokesman Munir Ahmad Farhad on Wednesday.

(5) Floods in Afghanistan - Wikipedia

Floods start in March and continue until May. 21 out of 34 provinces in Afghanistan are vulnerable to floods The Western region and central belt are at risk of floods. However the South West and few northern provinces of Afghanistan (Hirat, Ghor, Urozgan, Jozjan, Balkh and Faryab) can severely affected by both, flood and drought.

A characteristic of Afghanistan is that many provinces are affected by multiple hazards and lie under the Multi Hazard High Risk Zone. Earthquake and Landslide are of concern in the northern regions. Being mountainous, these regions have poor accessibility due to geographical conditions and harsh weather that further increasing the vulnerability of populations living in these areas.

Central region of Afghanistan experience recurrent floods and droughts combined with remoteness and insecurity. The southern region is primarily drought prone but also affected by insecurity and active conflict.

Flood and Mud Slide Slow flooding cause s only limited immediate death and injuries. Drowning and fatal injuries are rarely reported and traumatic injuries caused by flooding require only limited health care: small lacerations and punctures due to presence of glass debris and nails. In warm and arid areas increase in the cases of venomous snakebite is expected which may cause small increase in deaths toll. Electric shock and contamination by toxic materials can be one of the concerns, but no records so far of this in Afghanistan.

Sudden massive flooding caused by river breaches, glacial lake outburst, or collapse of dam structure collapse of Bandi Sultan/Ghazni in 2003 can cause many deaths due to drowning and related traumatic injuries. In addition, massive flooding will affect the community from various perspectives like education, water and sanitation, agriculture, health and social life which in general will lead of disempowerment of community and therefore; there would be need to focus on Early Recovery and Community Empowerment.

[Kojima]

Afghanistan Humanitarian Bulletin Issue 15 | 01 – 30 April 2013 [ReliefWeb; 13 May 2013]

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HIGHLIGHTS

• 5,300 families affected by floods

• Earthquake affects Nangarhar and Kunar provinces

• Escalation of conflict in Faryab causes displacement

• Enhanced humanitarian air capacity

• Establishing a Common Humanitarian Fund

In April, 30,141 people (5,300 families) were affected by floods across country 

Northern Region’s Balkh province pays highest toll with 3,599 families affected

Seasonal floods hit the whole country in April. Balkh, Kandahar, Hilmand, Faryab and Sari Pul were the worst hit provinces. As a result of robust inter-agency contingency planning and preparedness measures, the humanitarian impact of the floods was well-mitigated. The response to the emergency was faster and more efficient than in previous years. This reflects a recent strengthening in domestic disaster management capacity; the assumption of a lead role in coordination by Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA); and a well-functioning partnership between the government and the international humanitarian community.

In Balkh province, 3,599 families (approximately 22,000 people) were affected to varying degrees. As the first responders, the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) distributed food and non-food items. Care International in collaboration with ANDMA and humanitarian actors distributed 193 tents and hygiene kits for women. NRC conducted assessments that informed the response. The Department of Public Health supported the response with the deployment of 107 medical teams. As temperatures rose, the local authorities and the department of public health cautioned against the outbreak of water borne diseases such as malaria, cholera and typhoid fever. OCHA called on NGOs to mobilize response in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene.