Afghanistan Flash Floods Kill 17

Afghanistan experienced severe flash floods triggered by the season's first heavy rains and snowfall, ending a prolonged dry spell. The floods killed at least 17 people, including five members of a family in Herat Province, and injured 11 others. Mohammad Yousaf Saeedi, spokesman for the Herat governor, and Mohammad Yousaf Hammad, spokesman for the Afghanistan — Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, reported widespread damage to infrastructure, livestock deaths, and 1,800 affected families. The severe weather disrupted daily life across central, northern, southern, and western regions of Afghanistan. The United Nations and other aid agencies warned that Afghanistan is expected to remain one of the world's largest humanitarian crises in 2026, launching a $1.7 billion appeal to assist nearly 18 million people in urgent need.