U.N. Says More Than 31,000 Hit by Flash Floods in Afghanistan

More than 31,000 people were affected by flash floods in Afghanistan in 2025, the U.N. human settlements agency said Sunday.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme said more than 31,000 people were affected by flash floods in Afghanistan in 2025, highlighting the country’s growing exposure to climate-related disasters.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the agency stressed the need for disaster-resilient infrastructure and said it was working with the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan to help communities better withstand future shocks.

The warning comes after fresh flooding in early 2026 caused heavy losses across several provinces. Taliban disaster management officials said this week that floods over the past 10 days killed 77 people and injured 137 others.

Recent floods have also damaged homes, farmland and local infrastructure, adding pressure on vulnerable communities already facing poverty, displacement and weak public services. UN-Habitat says many Afghans live in fragile settlements with poor drainage and limited protection from extreme weather.

Afghanistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate shocks, with recurring floods, droughts and earthquakes regularly causing deaths and large-scale destruction, especially in underserved urban and rural areas.

UN-Habitat has repeatedly warned that rapid urban growth, informal housing and underdeveloped infrastructure are making Afghan communities more exposed to natural hazards. The agency says 80% of urban Afghans live in informal areas, where basic resilience measures are often absent.

The latest figures underline the scale of Afghanistan’s disaster vulnerability and the urgent need for stronger flood defenses, safer housing and long-term climate adaptation support.

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