An Afghan man carries his belongings as he walks through a mud covered street following a flash flood after a heavy rainfall in Laqiha village of Baghlan-i-Markazi district in Baghlan province. AFP

The news of flash floods in Afghanistan which killed more than 300 innocent people is so sad. It’s so unfortunate that the Afghan government failed to evacuate residents from the flooding area. Baghlan province experienced heavy rain in which thousands of houses were destroyed or damaged (“Death toll from Afghan floods rises to 311,” May12, Gulf Today website).

According to the report, video footage seen on social media showed huge torrents of muddy water swamping roads and bodies shrouded in white and black cloth. In one video clip, children are heard crying and a group of men looking at floodwaters, in which bits of broken wood and debris from homes can be seen.

The Afghan government is trying its level best to make people’s lives better, but failed to keep informing them about heavy rain and flooding. Climate change is another issue which makes the situation more challenging for poor countries. It is the biggest threat to the world. It’s so important to work together; coordinated efforts in fighting climate change disasters will bring about fruitful results.

Samandar Khan,

By email