HALO Afghanistan Flooding Disaster Response

HALO has worked in Afghanistan since 1988 and is completely Afghan led. By prioritizing local recruitment, our multi-ethnic workforce can work across the country and provide much needed economic assistance through employment.

The knowledge and skills of our local Afghan workforce were incredibly useful following the torrential rainfall and later flooding throughout the central and eastern areas of Afghanistan in July 2023. This rainfall led to flash flooding in Maydan Wardak, Khost, Logar, and Kabul. The casualties were catastrophic as it is estimated that 61 people passed away, 1,360 homes were destroyed, 13,023 hectares of agricultural land were ruined, and over 1,230 livestock were killed.

In response to the flooding, HALO swiftly swung into action and deployed two mechanical units to clear roads, enabling access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. HALO also supplied clean water and water purification kits, emphasizing the risks posed by water-borne diseases.

The rain also triggered landmines to wash down the hillsides, posing an immediate threat to the community. HALO soon deployed a quick-response team alongside mechanical units and aid conveys to clear over 120 displaced items of explosive ordnance, protecting the community.

Additional teams were also deployed to conduct rubble removal and riverbed reconstruction, assisting in post-flood recovery by redirecting newly eroded streams from vital agricultural land and preventing subsidence in the surrounding villages by building channels to allow floodwater to drain.

We are so grateful to our supporters at GlobalGiving who helped make this work possible – thank you!