Afghanistan: Heavy Snow and Rain Cause Deaths, Widespread Damage
Heavy snow and rainfall over a three-day period have resulted in the deaths of 61 individuals and injuries to 110 across Afghanistan. The country's National Disaster Management Authority reported that 458 homes were either fully or partially destroyed, and hundreds of animals perished across 15 of the nation's 34 provinces. Authorities are currently working to clear roads and access isolated villages.
Current Toll and Response Efforts
Yousaf Hammad, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Authority, confirmed the figures, noting that they are subject to change as more information is collected.
The severe weather event also involved significant property damage, with 458 homes reported destroyed or partially damaged.
Efforts are underway by authorities to clear obstructed roads and reach communities in remote areas affected by the weather.
Context of Vulnerability
Afghanistan frequently experiences extreme weather events, including heavy snow and rain that lead to flash floods. In 2024, spring flash floods resulted in over 300 fatalities.
The impact of such disasters is amplified by several factors:
- Decades of conflict
- Inadequate infrastructure
- Economic challenges
- Deforestation
- The effects of climate change
These conditions are particularly significant in remote areas, where many homes constructed from mud offer limited protection against sudden heavy precipitation or snowfall.
Broader Humanitarian Concerns
Eastern provinces of Afghanistan are still recovering from destructive earthquakes that occurred in August and November of the previous year, which destroyed villages and caused over 2,200 fatalities. Individuals displaced by these earlier earthquakes are considered particularly vulnerable to cold and adverse weather conditions.
In December, UNICEF stated that an estimated 270,000 children in earthquake-affected regions faced a risk of life-threatening cold-related illnesses.
Earlier this month, the United Nations indicated that Afghanistan is projected to remain one of the world's largest humanitarian crises in 2026.
In response, the U.N. and its humanitarian partners have launched a $1.7 billion appeal to assist approximately 18 million people in urgent need within the country.