RASC News Agency: Afghanistan is reeling from several days of intense winter storms, which have claimed at least 61 lives in central and northern provinces. According to a Taliban spokesperson, heavy snowfall and avalanches have caused widespread destruction in vulnerable communities.
Reports from Agence France-Presse indicate that the accumulation of snow triggered avalanches that destroyed homes, killed large numbers of livestock, and blocked key highways critical routes for food supplies and emergency aid.
Local sources and human rights observers warn that the distribution of humanitarian assistance has faced significant challenges. Access to aid has reportedly been unequal and selective, with some communities, particularly in non-Pashtun areas, receiving inadequate support.
These sources stress that the lack of transparency, independent oversight, and accountable systems under the Taliban has prevented international aid from reaching all affected populations fairly, raising serious concerns for humanitarian organizations and human rights groups.
While all communities affected by the storms face hardship, non-Pashtun groups especially Tajik-majority areas in the north appear disproportionately disadvantaged. These regions have experienced delays or gaps in aid delivery, leaving residents more vulnerable to the ongoing winter hazards.
The situation highlights both the humanitarian consequences of extreme weather and the broader structural inequalities in aid distribution under Taliban governance. Without corrective measures, vulnerable northern communities may continue to bear the brunt of disasters disproportionately.
