The harsh winter which brings heavy snowfalls in many provinces of Afghanistan and takes toll every year has just ended. But the nature is not yet done with the poor Afghan villagers. Spring rainfalls have caused deadly floods in northern and western Afghanistan. On Friday, Afghan officials said that floods had left at least 70 people dead, hundreds of others were missing and scores of homes were also damaged in Jawzjan, Sar-e-Pul, Faryab and Badghis provinces. The number of victims is on the rise. Meanwhile, there are reports that the floods have destroyed farms and killed cattle snatching the source of livelihood of thousands of Afghans. Among the victims are children and women and many families were caught on the roof of their houses.

At this difficult time, the people whose lives, families and properties have been ruined by floods need immediate attention. But seeing the past performance of Afghan government, it seem like it will once again leave the people in trouble with caring about them. Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), for example, has been inefficient, inactive and symbolic. Whenever, a natural disaster has occurred in Afghanistan, the required relief has never reached the victims. The condition indicates existence of deep-rooted corruption, government’s recklessness and lack of monitoring in the relief process.

In 2011, for instances, heavy snows and avalanches killed dozens of people in parts of the country, including more than 30 – many of them children – who froze to death in Kabul. The government could safe many lives by proper planning but acts recklessly and irresponsibly each time a natural disaster occurs. Needless to mention that the international community has been providing aids to the Afghan government for its preparedness for nature disasters. However, it seems that the major portion of those aids have only filled the pocket of corrupt and crooked Afghan officials.

This time the government’s help is required again. The government must support the people who are already suffering from many other problems among which insecurity is a dominant one and takes the life of people almost every day. The deaths caused by the natural disasters are basically the ones that can be avoided by some efforts and dedication. All the government needs to do is to bring its resources in use and help the poor people from the troubles miseries.

It must act immediately to send relief to flood-hit areas on emergency basis. This is the time Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) that has been an inactive organization must wake up and help the victims. It has to play some role as Afghanistan faces such disasters on regular basis and, therefore, there are dangers that each time it may cause tragic deaths. The UN and other concerned foreign organizations and Afghan ministries must also cooperate. In fact, it is the responsibility of the whole nation to support those affected by the floods and help them both financially and non-financially.