28 July 2010 - Government authorities and aid agencies in eastern Afghanistan are gearing up to provide assistance to hundreds of people whose homes washed away or flooded following this morning’s incessant rainfall.

“United Nations and other humanitarian agencies stand ready to provide assistance,” said Dr Said Alam Khan, Humanitarian Affairs Officer with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Jalalabad.

The Afghan Ministry of Defence transported about 160 people by helicopters earlier today while some are still stuck on islands amid the flooding.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said it will assist in the procurement of boats to evacuate residents.

The Afghan Red Crescent Society and partners have pledged to provide food.

Executive Director at the Nangarhar governor’s office Mohammad Hanif Gardiwal held an emergency meeting today to coordinate the relief effort.

Aid will be distributed after an assessment of the needs and the damage for Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar provinces is completed tomorrow.

One week ago, lighter rains caused some flooding in the same three provinces.

By Tilak Pokharel, UNAMA