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Afghanistan
Afghan soldiers of 205th Corps spend whole day to rescue flood victims
2019-03-03
Winning hearts and minds while building esprit d’corps — also important tasks for a young army.
[KhaamaPress] The 205th Corps and the Afghan Air Force in Kandahar have spent the day rescuing local residents in Kandahar and Zabul from high floods within these provinces. The flooding began last night and has destroyed infrastructure such as bridges and roads making travel today impossible for residents.

The security forces quickly reacted and have rescued residents from rising waters by helicopters to take them to designated safe places until the flooding dissipates.

"It is our duty to save and protect our people from natural disasters like these," said 205th Corps spokesperson.

"There was a school in Kandahar City where the waters were rising too high for the children to get out, the 205th Corps went to this school and dug a ditch to help alleviate some of the water."

The Afghan Airforce has played a vital role in rescuing civilians. They have dedicated air assets to reach areas where bridges have been damaged or the water is too high to travel. Kandahar Deputy Governor Muneeb personally met the aircraft at a pickup location to escort residents onto the aircraft.

"There has been a lot of homes destroyed, it has been very bad. The 205th Corps will continue to work with the Afghan Air Force to do our best to reach those who are in trouble." said the 205th Corps spokesperson

At least 20 killed by flash floods in southern Afghanistan: UN

[AlAhram] At least 20 people were killed by flash floods in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province, the UN said Saturday, as heavy rains swept away homes and vehicles and potentially damaged thousands of houses.

The United Nations
...the Oyster Bay money pit...
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said widespread flooding indudated Kandahar city and surrounding districts in the province, with 97mm of rain falling in affected areas in the last 30 hours.

"At least 10 people, including children, are still missing," said the UN agency in a statement.

"It is anticipated that up to 2,000 homes may have been damaged", with severe damage to infrastructure also being reported.

Kandahar's deputy governor Abdul Hanan Moneeb said the flooding was the worst in at least seven years, with many nomadic herders camped in the area swept away by the floodwaters along with their livestock.

The official added that 400 families have been rescued by the Afghan army since the flooding began late Friday night.

Rescue operations, however, were largely delayed due to heavy rainfall, Raziq Shirzai, the provincial commander of the Afghan air force, told AFP.

Disasters such as avalanches and flash floods often hit mountainous areas and river valleys of Afghanistan as snow melts in the spring and summer. It is made worse by deforestation.

Heavy snowfall across large swathes of Afghanistan this winter has raised fears of severe flooding as spring approaches, following years of devastating drought in the country.

Nearly 50 people have been killed as of February 12 due to flooding in Afghanistan so far this year, according to the UN.
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