The Taliban’s National Disaster Management Authority says 679 people have been killed in natural disasters across Afghanistan over the past year.
Mohammad Yousuf Hammad, spokesperson for the Taliban authority, said on the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction that another 1,634 people had been injured during the same period.
According to Hammad, 4,470 homes were completely destroyed, while another 17,664 were partially damaged.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed annually on October 13 to raise public awareness and strengthen communities’ preparedness for major natural disasters.
The United Nations General Assembly recognized the day in 1989 and, in 2009, designated October 13 as the official date for its observance.
