Afghanistan - July 16, 2024

Heavy rains have recently pounded eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 47 people, cutting power and destroying hundreds of houses.

The death toll is expected to rise in the coming days in eastern Nangarhar province where widespread flash floods, heavy rains and damaging winds occurred.

What makes the situation so tragic is that the people there have been suffering from a decades-long war and instability.

Rahman Gul survived the recent storms in Nangarhar province. His wife, daughter and daughter in-law were injured following strong winds, heavy rain and severe flooding in Masti Khel village in the Sorkhrud district.

He had been living in a poorly made house which he rented. The house was damaged. He said his family was lucky enough to survive the natural disasters.

Rahman is jobless and has had a hard life. His concern right now is feeding his family of 10.

More than a hundred houses had been destroyed in Masti Khel village after rain and wind hit the area this week.

Among them was one room where nine people huddled together.

The nine members of the family were taking refuge in the room when it collapsed, with seven members of the family losing their lives and two others severely injured.

Electricity and telecommunications had been disrupted. And farmland was flooded, a big blow to the population that depends on farming to survive.

Two months ago, Nangarhar province suffered from deadly flooding, leaving displaced families without food, medicine or shelter.

The local communities are in shock following the natural disasters. They say the re-building of their houses will take a lot of money, and it is difficult for them to reconstruct their houses due to the poor life with limited resources.

They are urging the international relief organizations and the de facto authorities to step up and help them get out of the mire.

Shotlist:
Nangarhar province, Afghanistan - July 16, 2024:
1. Various of collapsed wall;
2. Various of interior of courtyard;
3. Child, chicken at courtyard;
4. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Rahman Gul, resident:
"The storm was really powerful. It got cloudy all of a sudden and got darker as the weather worsened. I was standing right there and everyone including the children were crying and shouting.";
5. Damaged building;
6. People standing on rubbles;
7. Various of collapsed buildings, residents;
8. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Nematullah Khan, brother of victim:
"He was my elder brother. There were nine family members in the room. Seven of them were killed and two others were wounded as the roof collapsed.";
9. Toppled telegraph pole;
10. Various of collapsed wall, stones at courtyard; damaged roof;
11. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Ezatullah Khan, cousin of victim:
"Seven of the family members were dead in this room. Noorul Haq, the elderly son of my cousin, his wife, four daughters and his son and he himself died and two of his daughters were wounded.";
12. Various of collapsed buildings, destroyed farmland; residents;
13. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Raes Khan, local farmer:
"I had cultivated okra, mung bean, grain and cotton in my fifteen-acre land which were fully destroyed, and nothing is left.";
14. Destroyed farmland;
15. Flooded farmland.

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