Flood Hazard

Written by: Muzamil Shah Watandost

The recent floods in several provinces of Afghanistan have destroyed many houses and agricultural lands and caused huge human and financial losses.

Why floods happen and what people can do to protect life and property?

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people about this issue.

Najibullah, a resident of Tagab district of Kapisa province says, “There are about 500 houses in our area, almost all of them were damaged by the flood. Our farmland, sheep, a cow and a calf and households materials were drowned.”

Azimullah says, “Our 30,000 fruit trees were destroyed by the flood, and we suffered about 1,500,000 Afghanis in damage, and our house was also destroyed by the flood.”

What do some people think about the causes of flood?

Shir Agha says, “Our house is on the hillside. The residents of the lower area  are narrowing the field by planting more seedlings. They have usurped the flood zone and the flood has destroyed our land.”
Bakht Jan Zazaei says, “People are unaware of the dangers of floods, most people, including children, like to see floods and as a result, they lose their lives.”

Muhammad Nasim Haqani, the spokesman of the Ministry of Disaster Management says, “There are many causes why floods claimed so many lives this year. One of the causes is the severe drought in the past years. This year, due to climate change, rainfall has increased and floods have occurred in places that were never imagined. People don't care about forecasts and they have built houses and planted crops in places that are prone to flooding.”

How do some people prevent the dangers of flood?

Obaidullah Alakozai, a resident of Kapisa province says, “We have made aqueducts behind the walls of the house. When the flood comes, the water does not stop. The villagers planted trees and built earthen walls on the banks of the river, which prevent floods.”

Gul Hasan says, “When hear from the radio or a television about the danger of the flood, we evacuate our home.”

Nasim Haqani says, "Try not to build a house in front of a flood. Be careful when warning. If you are in a flooded area, move to safe places.
When the flood comes, don't try to get wood and don't go there to watch the flood so that the flood will take you away.

Also, we have about 40 small projects underway in this field, which include clearing streams; public awareness and building retaining walls.”