Flash floods in Ghor province have left a trail of devastation, with significant casualties and extensive financial losses. According to local reports, nearly 10,000 residential homes have been destroyed, around 3,000 shops have been wiped out, and dozens of bridges have been completely demolished. Approximately 80% of agricultural lands have been lost, plunging the population into a dire situation. Road blockades, lack of medicine, and limited access to doctors have resulted in the loss of a child’s life. Yesterday, social media warned residents near the Harirod River to take stringent precautions.
Furthermore, the city’s power grid has suffered damage in this province, with many power poles destroyed and meters washed away by the floods.
The devastating floods in the province of Ghor have inflicted severe financial damages on the province’s residents. Reports indicate that Firozkoh City, the capital of Ghor province, is among the flood-affected areas, where the electricity system has been severely affected. The electricity authority in Firozkok, under Taliban control, has announced that the flooding has damaged the institution’s power meters, poles, and boxes.
The authority has stated in a message that the electricity supply in parts of Firozkoh City has been cut off due to serious damage to the power infrastructure.
On the other hand, relief efforts for the affected communities in the districts have not yet begun, while footage of the floods indicates that the most destruction and casualties have occurred in remote areas.
Flood-affected residents in the districts have warned that without humanitarian aid reaching them, they will succumb to hunger and homelessness.
Mohammad, a resident of Deh Morgha village in the Shahrak district of this province, says that the floods have swallowed up his belongings, leaving him without shelter to protect him from rain and sun, and he spends his days hungry.
This flood-affected resident of Ghor province, whose everything has fallen victim to the flood, says that after four days, they have received no assistance, and neither do their neighbors have bread to lend them. According to him, the flood in the Shahrak district has taken away homes and everything else.
Speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, Mohammad recounts the horrifying floods that engulfed his area. He says, “May God not show anyone this state. We had heard of Noah’s flood, but we witnessed this one with our own eyes. Everything was lost and destroyed. The flood came all at once, sweeping away houses, shops, vehicles, and even trees. It took anyone inside their home. Some were killed, and many were injured while fleeing. Nothing is left in the village. Only stones brought from elsewhere remain where houses once stood.”
This flood victim emphasizes, “For four days and nights, we’ve had nothing. We have no home, no flour, no oil, and the flood took all our household items. Only the clothes on our backs remain. We have no bread to eat and spend these days and nights hungry. It’s very hard; if no help comes, we will all perish from homelessness and hunger.”
On the other hand, the flood-affected people of the Marghab district in this province say that more than two weeks have passed since the astonishing floods in this district, and the affected people do not even have a piece of dry bread to eat. According to them, transportation routes to some villages are cut off from the center, and people can only travel on foot.
Faqir Ahmad (pseudonym), one of the residents of Jandak village, Marghab district, tells the Hasht-e Subh Daily, “Our entire livelihood has been destroyed, and we have nothing. Not even a single measure of flour can be found in the houses. Everyone in the village of Jandak will perish from hunger. God knows that we have nothing and are in a state of life and death.”
This resident of Jandak village claims, “Even pieces of bread cannot be found in the village. Just two days ago, people from Asfarman village brought 30 loaves upon hearing about the situation in Jandak, but it wasn’t enough for everyone. All the people are hungry, and nothing can be found. The hungry condition of the people must be addressed. If this situation continues for another week, all the people will perish, and a humanitarian disaster will occur.”
The flood-affected people of the Dawlat Yar district, who have lost all their belongings due to the current floods, also say that after four days, no assessment of the destruction of agricultural produce and damage to their homes has been conducted. They urge relief agencies to act without discrimination and based on humanitarian principles, extending help to the needy in this area as well.
Meanwhile, residents of Ghawk and Kamanj villages in Ghor province speak of the lack of food supplies. They say that transportation routes between villages have been closed due to the destruction of bridges. According to them, people are enduring great hardship day and night. These residents warn that the risk of famine and severe hunger from the floods will drive the flood-affected to the brink of death.
Although four days have passed since the devastating floods in Ghor province, the Taliban announced this morning the transfer of aid shipments including emergency shelters, clothing, and food supplies. This comes as these aid items are being distributed to the outskirts of Firozkoh City, depriving areas and remote districts where a humanitarian crisis is looming from this assistance.
You can read the Persian version of this daily report here:
سیلابزدهگان غور؛ «از طوفان حضرت نوح شنیده بودیم، اما حال با چشم سر دیدیم»