| | Floods claim dozens of lives as UN prepares for more Pajhwok Afghan News
03/11/2005
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HERAT & KABUL - Heavy floods killed several persons and left more than a thousand houses destroyed in the past 10 days in two districts of the western province of Farah, officials and residents of the area said on Thursday. Residents of the two affected districts, Joyen and Shaib Koh, most of whom have fled to the centre of the province, have asked for help but say that aid has not reached them so far. In the meantime, the United Nations said on Thursday that local officials and NGOs were getting ready for possible floods in Badghis, Panjshir, Parwan, Kapisa, Bamyan and Herat provinces. Manoel de Almedia e Silva, spokesman for the UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA), told a press conference that working teams, made up of UN, relief agencies and government officials, had gone to the most vulnerable flood-prone areas to help the people in need. The UN and the Afghan government had earlier warned that after the heaviest snowfall in 7 years, warmer weather and snowmelt could cause floods in 12 provinces. The teams have reached each district of Bamyan province and Kapisa, Parwan and Panjshir provinces in order to collect information about floods, provide technical services and help people if they come, the UN spokesman said. Another team was to be formed soon in Herat province. In Farah province, both those who fled to other safe areas and others who are settled in Farah city say they are living in terrible conditions. Ghulam Mahbub from Shaib Koh district says he lost his wife in the flood. "We have come to the center of Faryab with 35 other families and only have the tents we were able to bring with us. He said that they were living in a mountainous area and each family lost one of its members, but nobody helped them." Abdul Salam, a man from Joyen district which borders Iran, said heavy rains raised the water level in the river near their village and brought floods which eliminated their cattle, houses and everything else. Eng. Abdul Rauf, head of the rural rehabilitation department of Farah, told Pajhwok: "We try to address problems of those suffered floods and to prevent future floods." Farah governor, Asadullah Falah, confirmed that no aid had reached the area.
"So far, no organization has helped us though we are in severe need of fuel, food, medicines and tents," Falah said. He warned that all rivers around Farah have filled up with water and larger more destructive floods are expected in spring. Reported by Pajhwok Staffers Ahmad Ehsan Sarwaryar and Khalida Khursand from Herat and Makia Monir in Kabul
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