Flood disaster: OIC, IRC, some celebrities announce emergency aid

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some organizations and renowned celebrities have expressed solidarity with Afghanistan and announced emergency cash and life-saving assistance for the flood victims in parts of the country, particularly in Baghlan province.

Salma Ben Aissa, director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), said: “These latest floods have caused a major humanitarian emergency in Afghanistan, which is still reeling from a string of earthquakes at the beginning of this year as well as severe flooding in March, communities have lost entire families, while livelihoods have been decimated as a result the latest floods have caused a major humanitarian emergency in Afghanistan.”

IRC statement added major flooding has hit at least seven provinces in Afghanistan, with over 250 lives were lost and thousands more were stranded without access to services.

Alongside the tragic loss of life, infrastructure including roads and power lines has been destroyed in Baghlan, Ghor, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Samangan, Badghis and Takhar provinces. IRC is preparing to scale up its emergency response in affected areas.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in a statement said that heavy seasonal rainfall on Friday 10 May 2024 caused severe flooding, affecting hundreds of families and wreaking extensive damage to infrastructure, property, and farmland.

OIC citing local sources said that intense flash floods have hit hard the northern Afghan province of Baghlan and at least three other neighboring provinces.

As a matter of urgency, the OIC appealed to all its Member States and other countries across the world as well as relief organizations to promptly channel life-saving assistance to help Afghan people impacted by the ongoing floods.

Azizi Bank Head Mirwais Aziz also wrote on his X handle that these flash floods caused havoc in northern Baghlan and some other provinces of the country.

Considering the high number of casualties and damages, Azizi decided to provide urgent humanitarian aid worth 50 million Afghanis from the Azizi Foundation to the injured and deserving families.

He added: “Therefore I directed my brother Humayoun Azizi to send an aid-team to Baghlan province.”

Cricket Superstar Rashid Khan has also announced 1.5 million Afs in aid for the affected families by floods in Baghlan province.

He clarified: “The announced aid will be distributed by Rashid Khan Foundation on daily basis, the foundation will provide food to a thousand affected people by the floods for 15 days. It is hoped that other compatriots will help by that time.”

Rashid Khan called on other influential people of the country of help the floods affected people.

 

The World Food Program (WFP) said that the organization will distribute enriched biscuits to the survivors of floods.

The Peshawar Zalmai team captain Javaid Afridi has also announced 10 million Rupees as aid for the flash flood victims.

All-rounder Mohammad Nabi Esa Khail wrote in his Facebook account that his foundation has launched a campaign on GoFundMe for the collection of urgent aid for the flood affected families in different parts of Afghanistan.”

Save the Children organization said it would send a well-equipped clinic on wheels and a team for the support of children and flood-affected people of Baghlan.

The organization said 600,000 people – of which an estimated 310,000 are children – live in the five districts in Baghlan that have been severely impacted by the floods.

The Foreign Office of Pakistan said on its X page: “While praying for the early recovery of those missing, Pakistan stood in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan during this difficult time.”

Lenarčič said: “We stand ready to deploy the EU emergency assistance.”

The EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, in charge of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Janez Lenarčič wrote on his X the union was closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan hit by devastating floods.

The recent flash floods had caused heavy life and financial losses for the people of the country.

The Department of Refugees and Repatriation said, at least 315 people have been killed, 1,630 others wounded and 2,600 homes destroyed by flash floods in northern Baghlan province.

Refugees Department Director Mohammad Ibrahim Omari has visited Bourka and Baghlan-i-Markazi districts and witness the disaster caused by flash floods.

Aw/nh

Views: 40