News about an avalanche in eastern Afghanistan
At least six people died and nineteen remain missing after an avalanche struck a mountainous region in eastern Afghanistan. Rescue teams have been deployed to the area to assist in the search and recovery efforts, according to local authorities reported to a major news agency on Monday.
The avalanche occurred last night in Nuristán province and destroyed or damaged about twenty homes, leaving a wake of devastation in its wake. Officials confirmed that six bodies had been recovered so far, with nineteen people still missing as of the latest reports from the provincial disaster management director. The situation remains fluid as teams continue to comb the affected villages for those unaccounted for.
Security forces, including Taliban units, are on the ground working to locate the missing, though there is concern about confirming the fate of those reported missing until a thorough search is completed. Local authorities emphasize that the harsh winter conditions are hindering recovery efforts and increasing the risk to responders in the area.
Afghanistan has endured heavy snowfall this winter, with a recent storm hitting northern and eastern provinces, including Nuristán. The lingering cold and persistent snowfalls complicate logistics, hamper transportation, and strain relief operations as communities brace for additional weather events in the weeks ahead.
The government in Kabul faces severe financial restrictions and international sanctions, shrinking its capacity to meet basic humanitarian needs. As a result, authorities are increasingly reliant on help from international organizations and partner countries to address the most urgent requirements of vulnerable families and villages.
In Doha, representatives from the United States, the United Nations, and Pakistan gathered to discuss Afghanistan’s situation since the Taliban took power in August 2021. Among the attendees, however, no Taliban delegates were present, signaling ongoing geopolitical sensitivities around humanitarian aid and governance in the country.
Nearly a year ago, avalanches in eastern Afghanistan, particularly in the Kunar province near the border with Pakistan and adjacent to Nuristán, led to the deaths of at least fifteen people. That event underscored the persistent risk posed by severe winter weather to communities living in the high mountain districts along Afghanistan’s eastern frontier.
The ongoing crisis highlights the precarious balance faced by Afghan residents who rely on aid to meet essential needs while institutions struggle under sanctions and limited fiscal resources. Relief workers emphasize the importance of rapid, coordinated responses that can reach remote villages before winter storms worsen and before cold temperatures deepen the hardships faced by families scattered across the rugged terrain.