Afghanistan is confronting a severe humanitarian crisis following a series of devastating winter storms that swept across the nation. Preliminary reports from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirm a tragic death toll of 61 individuals, with an additional 110 people sustaining injuries. The catastrophic weather conditions, characterized by intense snowfall and torrential rains, occurred from Wednesday through Thursday, with official assessments released on Saturday.
Beyond the grave human cost, the extreme weather has inflicted substantial damage to infrastructure and housing. According to NDMA estimates, 458 residential dwellings have been either completely demolished or partially damaged, displacing numerous families and exacerbating the nation’s existing humanitarian challenges.
Authorities emphasize that these figures remain provisional as comprehensive evaluation efforts continue across multiple affected regions. The assessment process has been hampered by persistent severe conditions, including the closure of several vital transportation arteries. Critical highway connections between the national capital Kabul and surrounding provinces remain impassable due to accumulated snow and hazardous travel conditions.
The widespread disruption extends beyond transportation, with communities across Afghanistan experiencing frigid temperatures and limited access to essential services. The compounding factors of infrastructure damage, blocked supply routes, and extreme cold pose significant challenges for disaster response teams working to deliver aid to isolated populations.