DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Afghanistan: A Country Prone to Natural Disasters
Located in a Zone of High Seismic Activity. Given the rugged and mountainous nature of the country and the location of its villages, towns and cities; the propensity for widespread death and destruction is always high whenever a disaster hits. Earthquakes, floodings, droughts, mudslides, and avalanches frequently occur due to its geographical location and years of environmental degradation. Earthquakes in the north and northeast often trigger landslides. And floods are common in the spring, when snow begins to melt and the rainfall is heavy.
Since the early 1980s, natural disasters have killed an estimated 19,000 people and displaced 7.5 million people by 2002. Nine major earthquakes resulted in 1,223 deaths. A reported 2,000 killed and 79,800 made homeless due to yearly flooding since 1954. ~The International Disaster Database
Landslides, avalanches and floods have also been the cause of dozens of deaths affecting the eastern provinces of Nangarhar, Kunar, and Laghman. Over 930 homes were damaged or destroyed. Agricultural losses of 63,700 acres of farmland and 490 livestock were reported. ~UNICEF
Decades of War and Civic Conflict as well as environmental degradation have all contributed to the increased vulnerability of the Afghan people to natural disasters. Assessments by the humanitarian agencies revealed significant shortcomings in the areas of water, sanitation, health, security and natural resource management. Furthermore, the high level of poverty, lack of livelihood and income generating opportunities, chronic health problems, and poor state of the infrastructure all add to the burden of natural disasters on the people of Afghanistan.
2024 AFGHANISTAN LOSSES
Flash Floods: 300+ killed; 1000+ homes destroyed.
Earthquakes: 1000+ killed; 96,000 children affected
Landslides: 12 killed.
Though it is not possible to completely avoid natural disasters, the sufferings can be minimized by creating proper awareness of the likely disasters and its impact by developing a suitable warning system, disaster preparedness, and management of disasters through the application of information technology.
Building Capacity for a Resilient & Sustainable Afghanistan
The development of a Disaster Management Plan is the first step in mitigating loss and saving lives. Examining the existing floodplain laws, building codes, and stormwater management helps to determine if structural modifications are needed such as elevating, relocating, or retrofitting homes and buildings. Assessments are also made to determine solutions to re-direct water away from the farms, buildings and homes. Most importantly, the installation of an Early Warning System with Alerts allows for Security, identified and trained in Emergency Procedures, to ensure for the care and safety of everyone residing within their communities. Business Continuity is a necessity. Plans on evacuating or sheltering staff and customers should be in place to implement measures in maintaining critical care operations during disasters furnishing food, water and the supplies needed for temporary shelter.
Your “Gift of Life” plays a vital role in Afghanistan’s growth of its economy and development. Education is a key element in building capacity. Your funding of our workshops provides the materials and supplies to ensure food security and to promote sustainable development. Programs on Home-based Farming, Community Farms and Tower Farming provides families a source of income to cover their costs of food, heat and shelter. This allows families to remain together, reducing the homeless population, while learning new skills and assisting in environmental conservation.
