Over 42,000 displaced by flood in Afghanistan: OCHA

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More than 42,000 Afghans have been displaced following flooding in the country within the past month and most of them are in need of supplies, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Wednesday.

"Heavy rains caused flash flooding between March 27-29 in six provinces in the Northern Region and Western Region of the country. While assessments are ongoing, an estimated 17,000 people have been affected with Balkh and Herat suffering the worst impacts," the office said in a statement.

"These are the first major floods in the Northern Region in the season," the statement said.

More than 163,000 people have been affected by floods, including those in the past week. A total of more than 42,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of the year, according to the statement.

"Due to the above-average snow and rainfall throughout the winter, the conditions for more flooding through the spring remain a concern and humanitarian organizations are planning to ensure they have enough supplies for the remainder of the season," the statement noted.

The latest floods have claimed the lives of more than 80 people and injured over 200 others in the affected regions.

(Cover: A flooded area due to heavy rainfall in Herat, Afghanistan, March 30, 2019. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency