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FARAH, Afghanistan — After receiving a distress call from Por Chaman District, Farah province Deputy Gov. Mohammad Rasooli convened a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Management Committee.
This morning, a National Directorate of Security senior official confirmed that three days of heavy snowfall followed by rain has caused severe flooding in the Northern Farah district killing six women, six children, 60 horses and 2,000 sheep.
"We need to send something immediately because they need assistance," said Afghan national army Provincial Commander, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Akram Sameh.
At this time, the extent of the damage is unknown and the PDMC's plan is to send a survey team along with enough relief supplies to support 200 families.
The challenge, however, is transportation.
Gen. Akram, using his cellular phone in the meeting held at the governor's compound, verified today that two Afghan helicopters are available in Herat. Unfortunately, due to inclement weather throughout the province, they are currently unable to takeoff.
This is the first time that the Farah PDMC has no choice but to deliver its humanitarian aid by helicopter. The terrain of Por Chaman District makes it a difficult place to travel during the winter months. Also, according to Abdul Satar Khan, who is originally from Por Chaman and the newly elected deputy of the Farah Provincial Council, 200 jeribs (approximately 100 acres) of land is under water affecting the villages of Qarya-i-Nizgan, Kamaraq, and Khaief.
The Afghan national police in Por Chaman is the main contact for information at the location of the disaster, but limited telephone connectivity further complicates the matter.
"Put yourselves in the shoes of the people of Por Chaman," said Trevor Hublin, the United States Agency for International Development representative present at the meeting. "If their houses are gone, maybe a roof over their heads is their main concern. You have to start making strategic assumptions about priorities of aid."
The 22-person committee agreed that each family will receive six items, including a tent, 25 kilograms of rice, blankets, a small stove, clothes, and a can to hold water. Musa Jan, the International Committee of the Red Cross representative for Farah said all the items are currently being stored in the city and that they only need the airlift capability to get the job done.
Deputy Gov. Rasooli asked the International Security Assistance Forces present at the meeting if they would be able to support the humanitarian mission to Por Chaman by refuelling the Afghan helicopters as needed. The request was quickly accepted by U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Wayne Bodine, the Marine Expeditionary Brigade liaison officer for the Farah Provincial Reconstruction Team.
| Date Taken: | 02.07.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.09.2010 03:30 |
| Story ID: | 45125 |
| Location: | FARAH, AF |
| Web Views: | 240 |
| Downloads: | 191 |
This work, Flooding in Por Chaman, Farah Province, Kills 12 Civilians, by MSgt Tracy DeMarco, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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