Natural disasters: Afghanistan seeks $322 mn emergency aid

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Thursday reported the level of losses and damages inflected by recent natural disasters in Afghanistan up to $2 billion and asked the international community to provide emergency assistance to the victims.

In order to receive assistance for the victims of recent natural disasters in the country, a conference was held today (Thursday) in Kabul with the participation of foreign representatives and cabinet members of the caretaker government.

In this conference, the MoFA of Afghanistan presented information about the losses and damages caused by recent natural disasters, saying the wave of climate change has affected the wealth of the poor people of Afghanistan.

According to the ministry, since June 22, due to natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, avalanches and landslides), 7,412 people have died in different provinces, more than 35,000 houses are partially or completely destroyed, 51 mosques, 35 schools and 12 clinics destroyed.

Based on the ministry’s information, 2,560,000 people were affected by recent earthquakes, 929,000 were affected by avalanches, 4,300,000 by floods, and landslides affected 87,000 people.

At least 1,579 people have been killed, 5,842 others injured, 18,726 families displaced and a total of nearly one million people have been affected.

According to the source, at least 317,500 acres of agricultural land, and 185,671 acres of gardens were destroyed, 51,518 animals were died 4,470 major canals were destroyed and millions of trees were destroyed.

As a result of the recent floods, 12 bridges, 569 kilometers of roads, 754 culverts, more than 27,000 meters of retaining walls, 29 water supply networks, 1,223,000 meters of canals, 284 wells and five small mills were destroyed, 4,254 solar panels, 13 small ports and 4,700 dams have been damaged.

Based on these figures, the MoFA estimated a loss of around $2 billion.

The source said: “The government has rescued 3,500 people with the help of 430 flights and 500 ambulances and provided medical treatment to thousands of injured people, distributed food items to thousands of families and provided million dollars in cash assistance.”

In order to build makeshift shelters for the victims, the ministry provided 100,000 tents, tarpaulins and floors, kitchen utensils, 350,000 blankets and mattresses, 100,000 medical kits, 160,000 tons of various household goods, and 1,500 tons of firewood.

$322 million is needed for emergency assistance to victims of natural disasters.

At least $200 million was needed to the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation for building houses, roads, water supply systems and electrical infrastructure.

About $60 million was needed to the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock for distributing refined seeds to the vulnerable, distributing fruit and non-fruit saplings, and restoring dams and canals.

At least $22 million should be provided to the Ministry of Public Health for the purpose of building health centers for the people and preventing infectious diseases.

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation needed $40 million for providing makeshift shelters and food assistance for the vulnerable. So, a total of $322 million was needed.

Tacking natural disasters a challenge: Muttaqi

Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi called on the world to help the victims and fulfill their humanitarian responsibility.

He added Afghanistan was hit hard by wars, so the management of heavy and bloody natural disasters was a challenge for the government.

Muttaqi added: “In the past year, we also paid a heavy price for the problems caused by climate change. Our people, who had a very useful role in protecting the climate, and their role in the destruction of the climate may be equal to none, but the wave of climate change has destroyed the wealth of our poor people.”

Sa/nh