KABUL: At least 15 persons have been killed, and nearly 30 others have sustained injuries as widespread heavy snowfall blanketed several provinces in Afghanistan, TOLOnews reported on Saturday.
The snowfall, spanning over the past three days, has not only claimed human lives but has also inflicted severe damage to livestock, with nearly ten thousand animals perishing in Balkh and Faryab provinces alone.
Residents voiced their anxiety over the relentless snowfall, highlighting the plight of stranded communities, blocked roads, and significant losses to their livelihoods.
Heavy Snowfall in Afghanistan
In response to the crisis, Afghanistan has formed a committee comprising various ministries to address the damages, particularly focusing on supporting livestock owners. An allocation of fifty million Afghanis has been earmarked to aid affected communities in provinces heavily impacted by the snowfall.
Misbahuddin Mustaeen, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, praised the swift response of provincial committees, actively engaged in opening blocked roads, distributing essential supplies, and rescuing those stranded.
Winter service workers, supported by the Afghan Red Crescent Society, have been deployed to affected provinces, extending assistance to individuals in need, especially in remote areas cut off by the snowfall.
The severity of the snowfall has led to the closure of key transportation routes, including the Salang Pass, exacerbating the challenges faced by communities in provinces such as Ghor, Badghis, and Herat.
