Winter storms kill dozens and destroy hundreds of homes in Afghanistan

Heavy snow and rain sweeping across Afghanistan over a three-day period have killed at least 61 people and injured more than 100, the National Disaster Management Authority said, as rescue teams and communities confront widespread damage and urgent needs. Fifteen provinces reported damage and roughly 458 homes were destroyed, leaving hundreds of families without shelter in winter conditions.

The scale of the loss is striking in a country whose health and social services remain fragile after decades of conflict and economic disruption. Collapsed homes and blocked roads complicate access to care for the injured and sick, while cold, wet conditions raise the risk of hypothermia, pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses among children, elderly people and pregnant women. With primary-care facilities limited in many rural districts, even nonfatal injuries can become life threatening when transportation and supplies are scarce.

Local authorities and humanitarian responders face a dual challenge: immediate search and rescue and short-term medical and shelter needs, and longer-term recovery that will require rebuilding housing and infrastructure during the cold season. Damaged homes and disrupted heating and sanitation increase the threat of disease spread, malnutrition and worsening mental health for people who have lost livelihoods and safe spaces. For households already near or below the poverty line, loss of a single dwelling can tip families into crisis.

The disaster underscores persistent inequities in access to services across Afghanistan. Rural communities and informal settlements often lack robust emergency infrastructure and are harder to reach when roads are blocked by snow. Women and girls are disproportionately exposed to protection risks when displacement is prolonged and private shelter is unavailable. Children face interruption of education and vital nutrition programs, exacerbating developmental and health gaps that tend to endure beyond the immediate emergency.

Aid delivery is further complicated by the country’s shifting political and financial environment. Humanitarian organizations say predictable, flexible funding and coordinated logistical support are essential to reach remote districts before conditions worsen. Emergency winterization supplies, emergency medical teams, blankets, heating fuel and temporary shelter are immediate priorities, while repairs to roads, power and water systems will be necessary to prevent secondary public health crises.

Health officials and relief planners must also prepare for the delayed toll of such storms. Untreated injuries, interrupted chronic disease care and lack of maternal services can increase mortality weeks after the weather event. Strengthening referral networks, pre-positioning medical supplies and ensuring community-level responders can operate safely are critical measures to limit preventable deaths.

The devastation across 15 provinces highlights the need for investment in resilient infrastructure and community preparedness that centers equity. In a country where humanitarian demand already outstrips resources, the storms have amplified the urgency of policies that prioritize the most vulnerable and build local capacity to respond in future extreme weather events. As recovery begins, the immediate test will be keeping shelter, healthcare and basic services available through the cold months so that losses do not compound into long-term displacement and avoidable suffering.