Extreme Weather Displaces Thousands in Afghanistan, Children Most Affected

In the first half of 2024, extreme weather events displaced at least 38,000 people in Afghanistan, surpassing the total for all of 2023, reliefweb reported yesterday citing Save the Children.

Approximately half of those affected are children. Data from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) highlights those displacements resulted from droughts, floods, landslides, and storms.

Afghanistan has become increasingly vulnerable to climate change, with the UN reporting that drought is the leading cause of disaster-related displacement. Currently, one in seven Afghans faces long-term displacement, the highest in South Asia and the second highest globally.

Severe drought conditions impact 25 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, forcing families to leave their homes in search of water and work. In Kandahar province, families have walked hours to collect contaminated water, leading to disease outbreaks. Over one-third of the population is experiencing crisis-level hunger due to climate shocks and rising food prices.