Floods destroy crops on hundreds of acres of land in Paktika

SHARANA (Pajhwok): Flash floods destroyed crops, especially wheat, on hundreds of acres of land in 10 districts of southeastern Paktika province besides submerging people's houses in some areas.

The floods emerged in Matakhan, Sara Roza, Orgun, Nika, Yahyakhel, Yusufkhel, Khairkot, Khoshamand, Deila and Janikhel districts of Paktika.

Ajab Khan, a resident of Khoshamand district, told Pajhwok News the floods destroyed his wheat crop on 50 acres of land and his whole year was wasted.

He said the floods also destroyed the wells that he used to irrigate the wheat, and some technical equipment was broken due to a storm before the floods.

He said before the flooding, a strong storm broke his solar panels and then the flood swept away his wheat crop. “Our only income is these crops.”

Rehmatullah Walizada, a resident of Orgun district, also told Pajhwok his wheat and bean crops on around 300 acres of land were destroyed by the floods.

Samiullah Khan, a resident of Matakhan district, also said the floods devastated crops on large swaths of land. He said he had not received any help from the government or aid giving agencies.

Provincial officials say a survey has been launched in the flood-affected areas and after its completion,  the victims will be assisted.

Maulvi Mansour Hamas, head of the disaster management department, told Pajhwok they had so far provided food and tents to the flood-affected areas in Sarubi, Nimatabad and Matakhan districts.

He said after a thorough survey, necessary assistance will be provided to the affected people in all the districts hit by floods.

“The floods caused a lot of damage to wheat crop and destroyed vegetables and gardens. We have provided some help to the victims, but after a survey, the help will reach all the victims."

Hamas also said due to the recent floods, one person died in Terwa district and two people were injured in Sara Roza and Warmami districts.

Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Department officials said the affected people would be distributed  around 300 tons of wheat.

Maulvi Mohammad Ismail Shakib, Director of Agriculture, told Pajhwok the wheat would be distributed to the affected families after a survey in this regard was completed.

Paktika officials are yet to determine how many acres of agriculture land was destroyed by the floods in the entire province and how much damage has been caused to wheat and bean crops and gardens, but they say they will inform the media about the damage in the coming days.

Recently floods triggered by heavy rains emerged in Paktia, Ghazni, Logar and some other provinces, including Paktika.

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