RASC News Agency: As the weather turns colder, many of the flood survivors in Baghlan province report that their difficulties have worsened. These victims, who lost their homes and dozens of family members due to the catastrophic floods earlier this year in the Fulul area of the Barka district, are struggling to survive. The survivors complain of a lack of access to adequate healthcare, clean drinking water, and food, with aid organizations failing to visit or provide meaningful support. As winter approaches, life under tents has become increasingly unbearable, with rainwater flooding into shelters, making women and children particularly vulnerable to illness.
One of the most pressing concerns remains the scarcity of safe drinking water. Humanitarian organizations have yet to take action to provide clean water or dig deep wells, leaving residents with few options for obtaining potable water. Hamidullah, the head of the Dast-e-Fulul Council in Barka, stated that over 100 families are currently living in tents in the freezing temperatures, resulting in a surge of illnesses, particularly among women and children. He also noted that there are no healthcare facilities in the area to treat sick children, and many of the mobile clinics set up by aid agencies have already left. The only operational health center is located in the district’s main town, but the displaced people have difficulty accessing it.
Furthermore, Hamidullah pointed out that many families whose homes were destroyed in the floods still lack permanent shelter. Some of them have sought refuge with friends or relatives, while others have rented houses in different areas. He added that in one settlement, 54 houses are being built for the flood survivors with the help of aid organizations and philanthropists, with construction at about 80% completion. These homes are expected to be ready in less than a month. However, given the large number of victims, these homes will not be enough, and additional housing will be needed. For these flood survivors, their biggest problem with the onset of winter is the lack of shelter. Many children have become ill and are in poor health. Shamsullah, a resident of the Fulul area, explained that recent rainfall caused illness among children and women because the rainwater entered their tents at night.
Shafiullah, another flood survivor from Barka, stated that while they have received some aid, including kitchen supplies and food, it is insufficient. With the cold weather setting in and a harsh winter ahead, he stressed that the community urgently needs adequate shelter. One flood survivor expressed their distress, saying, “Where can we go? Everywhere we turn, there is unemployment. We have no home, no option but to live in tents. Even here, as the cold sets in, our problems have already begun. Our women and children are falling ill, and we have no access to medicine, female doctors, or health centers.”
Residents of the Barka district also report that they are still at risk of further flooding and urge the construction of protective walls to safeguard the community from future disasters. Some survivors in Dast-e-Fulul mentioned that although they received some food and non-food aid in the months immediately following the floods, no further assistance has been provided as winter approaches. They are deeply concerned about facing another harsh winter without sufficient support.
The Ministry of Refugees and Returnees under the Taliban government had previously reported that at least 315 people died and 630 others were injured in the floods in Baghlan. However, the International Organization for Migration has stated that more than 200 people have lost their lives due to the recent floods.
