Kunar flood victims seek government’s help

ASADABAD (Pajhwok): Families whose houses and belongings were washed away by Sunday night floods in eastern Kunar province ask the government to assist them.

Residents of Asadabad, the provincial capital, and Watapur district suffered heavy financial losses due to server flooding on Sunday night.

Gul Mohammad Khan, a resident of Pirini Dag in Watapur district, told Pajhwok that the floods destroyed his home and swept away all their belongins. “Only I and my children are safe.”

He said their lives could worsen if the government did not assist them.

Asghar Khan, a resident of Doshakhil area in Asadabad, said his crops were devastated by recent rains and floods and the government should assist him.

He said all his crops were washed away and the government was yet to extend him a helping hand.

Ihsanullah Ihsan, damage assessment manager at the Natural Disaster Management department, told Pajhwok that 129 houses, hundreds of acres of agricultural land, river embankments and roads had been destroyed in Asadabad and districts due to recent floods.

He said the floods destroyed 60 acres of agricultural land, a mosque, a hotel, two shops, a chicken farm, a 500-meter canal and 23 retaining walls in Asadabad.

He said in Watapur district, 60 houses, 92 acres of agricultural land, a health center, a school, a religious seminary, 20 kilometers of road, 1500 meters of canal, two embankments and 150 meters of retaining walls were damaged by the floods.

He said the affected families would be assisted in cooperation with aid agencies, pending a survey.

Recent floods caused by seasonal rains caused heavy life and financial losses in different parts of the country.

According to the Ministry of Disaster Management, 27 people were killed, 17 others injured and 400 houses completely and partially destroyed and thousands of acres of agricultural land inundated.

ma