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Flash Floods Kill 12 in Afghanistan, Highlighting Nation's Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

Severe flash floods triggered by heavy rain and snow have killed at least 12 people and injured 11 across multiple Afghan provinces. The disaster destroyed or damaged nearly 1,900 homes, washed away roads, and killed livestock, compounding existing vulnerabilities. This comes as the UN launches a $1.71 billion humanitarian plan for 2026, aiming to assist 17.5 million people amid a crisis driven by climate shocks, food insecurity, and mass returnees. Afghanistan remains one of the world's largest humanitarian emergencies, with over 21 million people in need of aid.

Key Points: Afghanistan Floods Kill 12, Destroy Homes Amid $1.7B Aid Plan

  • 12 dead, 11 injured
  • 1,859 homes damaged
  • $1.71B UN aid plan for 2026
  • 21.9M people need assistance
2 min read

Flooding kills 12, injures 11 in Afghanistan

Flash floods in Afghanistan kill 12, injure 11, and destroy nearly 2,000 homes as the UN launches a $1.71 billion humanitarian response for 2026.

"With needs remaining among the highest globally in a non-conflict setting... - UN OCHA"

Kabul, Jan 1

At least 12 people were killed and 11 others injured after heavy rainfall and snowfall triggered severe flash floods across multiple provinces in Afghanistan over the past three days, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority said on Thursday.

Hafiz Mohammad Yusuf Hammad, spokesman for the authority, said the disaster struck Kapisa, Parwan, Daykundi, Uruzgan, Kandahar, Helmand, Badghis, Faryab, Badakhshan, Herat and Farah provinces.

The mishap also caused extensive property damage, destroying or partially damaging 1,859 homes and washing away 209 km of rural roads, Hammad added, Xinhua news agency reported.

Additionally, approximately 1,200 livestock perished, and 13,941 acres of agricultural land were swamped or destroyed.

Rescue and relief teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to assist victims, and the distribution of emergency aid is underway as damage assessments continue, Hammad said.

On Tuesday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) launched a 1.71 billion US dollar humanitarian needs and response plan for Afghanistan in 2026, which is expected to remain one of the world's largest humanitarian crisis this year.

In 2026, an estimated 21.9 million people will require humanitarian assistance, a four per cent decrease from 2025, and 17.4 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity, including 4.7 million in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), according to OCHA.

The office said that UN humanitarian partners will prioritize 17.5 million people for assistance in 2026, around 80 per cent of those in need, through a coordinated response costing 1.71 billion dollars. Assistance will focus on life-saving and protective interventions, including food, shelter, healthcare, nutrition, safe water, hygiene and multipurpose cash support.

With needs remaining among the highest globally in a non-conflict setting, humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan continue to be driven by deep structural vulnerability, worsening food insecurity, and recurrent shocks, including climate-driven drought, large-scale returnee inflows, frequent earthquakes and floods, multiple disease outbreaks, and severe protection risks, especially for women and girls, the office said.

Mass cross-border returns further compound needs: more than 2.61 million Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan in 2025 alone, placing significant pressure on host communities, basic services and livelihoods, OCHA said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Aman W
Terrible news. The loss of livestock is a huge blow to families' livelihoods. Climate change is hitting our region hard, causing these extreme weather events. Afghanistan needs long-term support to build resilience, not just emergency aid. Hope the relief reaches the people quickly.
R
Rohit P
The article mentions over 2.6 million returnees from Pakistan and Iran last year alone. That's a massive influx. It puts everything into perspective - the infrastructure was already under immense strain before these floods. A truly complex crisis. 🙏
S
Sarah B
While the humanitarian plan is necessary, I have a respectful criticism. The article says it's a 1.71 billion dollar plan for 2026, but the floods are happening now. There seems to be a gap between long-term planning and immediate disaster response. The aid distribution needs to be faster and more agile.
K
Karthik V
So many provinces affected. It's not just one area. The scale is devastating. We often hear about conflicts, but these natural disasters on top of everything else... it's too much for any population to bear. The international community must step up.
N
Nisha Z
The mention of women and girls facing severe protection risks is particularly worrying. In such disasters, they are often the most vulnerable. The relief work must have a specific focus on their safety and needs. Praying for strength for all the affected people.

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