OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Afghanistan - Floods
20 June 2005


This report is based on information provided by the Office of the UN 
Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary 
General/Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Kabul, Afghanistan.

I. SITUATION

1. Severe storms, including hailstorms, commencing on 16 June have led 
to heavy flooding in parts of northeastern and eastern Afghanistan. The 
Government has claimed 48 deaths, however, the UN has thus far confirmed 
29 persons killed and 40 injured. The affected provinces include, 
Badakhshan, Kapisa, Kunar and Nangarhar.

2. According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), 
Badakhshan province, one of the worst-affected, reports that 658 
hectares of agricultural land has been damaged, 3,731 livestock killed 
and over 1,000 residential dwellings destroyed, while 65 villages 
confirm flood damage, with three districts severely-affected: Darayem, 
Teshkan and Faizabad.

3. UN and Government assessments have confirmed extensive flooding in 
Kapisa, north of Kabul, due to the raised level of the Panjshir River. 
The road from Kapisa center is currently flooded and there is risk that 
Tagab, Najirab and Alesea districts may be cut off. In Sayyed village, 
Orki Olya district, some 11 families need to be evacuated to safer 
grounds ? the Government is following up on this requirement.

4. According to the Governor of Kunar province, floods have affected 
several districts along the Kunar River, while 30 houses in Narang 
district have been damaged. The Governor has forwarded a request for 
tents, food and blankets to support displaced families. A UN assessment 
mission has been dispatched to Kunar today.

5. In eastern Nangarhar, flooding has been reported in Payenda Khil 
village of Behsud district. A Government led survey identified 10 
families in need of assistance.

6. A Joint Operations Centre (JOC) was established in early 2005, 
comprising both UN and Government representatives to monitor the flood 
situation in the country. Coordination mechanisms in the country are 
reported to be functioning well as all information pertaining to the 
floods is being channeled through the JOC.


II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

7. The Government of Afghanistan has requested assistance through the 
Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC in order to meet the immediate needs of the 
affected population. The Government urgently requests 10,000 blankets 
and 100 tents in response to the emergency situation.

8. Joint assessments, led by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and 
Development (MRRD) are ongoing in most affected provinces. Government 
military assets, i.e. helicopters, are being used to evacuate villagers 
from risk areas. MRRD has dispatched two helicopters to Badakhshan to 
assist with assessments and an aircraft loaded with nonfood items. USAID 
contributed $25,000 to purchase the fuel for the aircraft.

9. MRRD has established an emergency response team at the provincial 
level in Kapisa, which is currently leading a needs assessment.


III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

10. An allocation of USD 30,000 from the Government of the Norway 
Emergency Grant and USD 20,000 from the OCHA Emergency Reserve Fund were 
approved on 20 June in order to procure 1,000 tents for displaced 
persons in Badakhshan province. UNICEF and UNHCR are providing tents, 
plastics sheeting, family kits and NFIs, while WFP will distribute some 
88 MT of food to 9000 persons. WFP is also working to clear and rebuild 
roads washed away by heavy mud in Faizabad district. Due to the closure 
of the main road in remote Darwaz (Badakhshan), WFP, in collaboration 
with the NGO FOCUS, will transport food aid through Iskashem in 
Tajikistan as roads are blocked on the Afghan side of the border by 
prolonged snow.

11. The International military forces in Afghanistan, ISAF and Coalition 
Forces have agreed to consider requests for air transport or delivery 
assistance.

12. OCHA is in close contact with the DSRSG/RC/HC in Kabul, and will 
revert with further information when available.

13. This situation report, together with further information on other 
ongoing emergencies is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at 
http://www.reliefweb.int.

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel.   +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officer:
   Ms. Afia Ali Blasco
     Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1173

Press contact:
   GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
   NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker direct Tel. +1-917-367 51 26

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International                  web: www.cidi.org
     Disaster Information             listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                    guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -