Snow has blanketed much of Afghanistan. So far at least 119 people have perished in avalanches, but elsewhere people are out of their homes enjoying the snow.
There was continuous snowfall for 72 hours in Kabul and many other provinces. Tamana Jahesh, a female media activist, calls it a time when “Kabulis celebrated”. “The snowfall made people smile; Kabulis celebrated, all people were out of their homes,” she says.
But the news of destruction and deaths because of heavy snow has triggered public demand for better disaster preparedness.
Reza Haidarian Jaghori in Bamyan province accuses the government of “inattention”. “Snowfall is very beneficial for Afghan people as we are an agricultural country. Then why the tragedy? We all know people live under tents in some provinces. If only the government had paid attention.” Haidarian considers it the government’s duty to minimise human losses with precautionary arrangements.
Habibullah Helmandi, a civil society activist in Daikundi province says, “Since the majority of people in Daikundi are agriculturists, good snowfall means an increase in yields and grass for livestock. People are very happy for the snowfall. The government is at fault for not paying attention to disaster preparedness including raising awareness. People are at fault for not paying attention to safety while constructing dwellings.”
People living in remote areas are the worst affected. Ahmad Farhad Ghiasi says in Badakhshan province where “snowfall blocked roads in 17 districts, 17 people have become martyred in Mahmi, Darwaz and Yawan districts, and another 23 people have been caught in avalanches, their destiny is still unknown. People don’t have access to health centres and pregnant women could not get to hospitals due to blockage of roads. The economic situation of people is very worrying; they cannot get food, fuel and health stuff.”
The official death toll, according to the president’s office, is 160 people since Dec 21. In a video message the president described the latest snowfall as beneficial to agriculture and sources of water but expressed his concern about casualties as a result of avalanches and storms. He has announced Friday (Feb 10) will be observed as Feteha for the victims. The government says most casualties have been reported from Nuristan, Badakhshan, Parwan and Ghazni.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Wais Barmak, minister for investigation into natural incidents, said 22 provinces have witnessed heavy snowfall and avalanches. “All people caught on the roads were rescued. Most of the casualties were those sleeping at the time of the avalanches,” he said.
More than 400 livestock have died in the bitter cold. Mahmood Baligh, minister of public works, said passengers were caught in snow storms on Salang Pass, and the highway was closed for three days. The roads that have now reopened are Kabul to Kandahar, Kabul to Jalalabad, and Kabul to Logar, Gardez and Khost.
Nuristan
An avalanche swallowed a village Afsi in Bargmatal district. Early reports said 65 people died but Hafez Abdul Qayoom, governor of Nuristan, reported on Tuesday that the bodies of 83 villages were taken out from the snow. President Ashraf Ghani travelled to Nuristan on Tuesday. The avalanche destroyed 70 houses, affecting 400 people. Rescue workers are trying to get the survivors to safety. Khalillullah Ghoyoor, a member of the provincial council says roads to the avalanche-stricken village are blocked and no aid has been delivered.
Badakhshan
Local provincial authorities report 18 deaths so far. Sayed Abdullah Humayoon Dehqan, head of investigation into natural incidents in Badakhshan, says 10 members of a family were killed and 8 others injured in a district called Mahmi. According to Abdullah, eight people died in snowfall in Yawan district and the roads connecting 10 districts with the provincial capital, Fayzabad, were closed.
Sar-e Pol
Based on information from local authorities, the death toll due to the cold wave in the province is five – three men and two women. Aziz Rahman Aimak, head of the department to counter disasters, says four people died in Sayad district and one person in Balkhab. Tens of houses have collapsed under the weight of the snow, and roads out of the district are blocked. Sardar Sarwari, a member of the provincial council, says people are in urgent need of essential items. “Prices of food stuff are soaring. A ser (7 kg) of rice has increased to 1,200 Afs (18 USD) and one ser of flour to 500 Afs (7 USD).”
Jowzjan
At least 47 people have died in the province’s Darzab district. Rahmatullah Hashar, district governor, says these deaths were in the last three weeks. Omar Mohammadi, spokesperson of the department investigating natural disasters, says he cannot confirm the loss of lives.
Parwan
Avalanches in Ghorban district have taken the life of 15 people and injured 10. According to Qari Ahamad, a member of Parwan provincial council, avalanches occurred in Darasurkh area in Surkhparsa village. Many houses have collapsed, and roads from the village to the district headquarter are blocked.
Ghor
Local authorities reported the deaths of five people in heavy snowfall. Hamidullah Dadfar who is in charge of disaster preparedness says at least 50 houses have been buried in the snow. Dadfar also reported the death of at least 100 animals in Saghar and Tolak districts.
