Afghanistan. - Forced Migration Online

an earthquake affected 18,600 families. Some of the affected remained displaced locally,
while structures were rebuilt. Others left the area altogether. Smaller earthquakes occurred in
2000 and 2001, but with little damage to infrastructure. In spring of 2002, two significant
earthquakes occurred in the Hindu Kush resulting in 25 deaths and collapsed structures,
leaving up to 10,000 people homeless. Most of the affected were displaced locally, due to
blocked mountain passes and a rapid response by international agencies.
Accurate information on the number of displaced due to earthquakes is difficult to obtain. In
most instances, displacement occurred locally owing to the remoteness of the villages affected
and extreme poverty which would make it difficult for most to leave the area. Those who are
able to leave tend to migrate to urban centres within the country or to neighboring countries.
Many of those affected by earthquakes in the last decade were displaced locally and received
varying degrees of assistance from either the UN or NGOs. In the case of the more significant
earthquakes, such as Rustaq in 1998 and Nahrin in 2002, agencies mobilised quickly with
food and non-food items to respond to needs and to deter migration out of the local area. In
many of the areas, high elevation and poor or non-existent roads hampered the humanitarian
effort.
In April 2004, a powerful earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale jolted the remote
Hindu Kush Mountains along Afghanistan's north-east border with Pakistan. The epicentre of
the earthquake was in Jurm District, 50 miles south south-east of Faizabad. The populations
of Jurm District and Yangaan district in Badakhshan were affected. The quake also shook the
city of Kabul and was felt in other population centres in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Websites:
Relief Web
Afghanistan Earthquake Information Bulletin No. 01/2004
Map of earthquake affected areas
AIMS
3.2.2 Floods and Landslides
The region has a history of floods to varying degrees. Many of these are characterised as
‘localised’ flooding due to lack of basic infrastructure such as protection dams and canals. In
these cases, displacement is unlikely but livelihoods are compromised which may indirectly
contribute to migration. Floods leading to displacement occurred in 1992, affecting villages in
the Hindu Kush region resulting in loss of household assets and loss of life. In 1993,
mudslides in Kabul destroyed houses and left 1,000 people homeless leading to displacement.
In 1995, floods leading to landslides led to displacement and loss of life in the mountainous
region of Badakhshan. In the northern region in 1997, floods led to the damage and
destruction of houses and some livestock was lost. In spring of 2002, following three years of
drought which continued to grip parts of the country until 2003, the west, north, north-east,
and central highlands received high levels of precipitation in a short period of time resulting
in flash floods and mudslides. While direct displacement did not occur in significant numbers
as a result of the floods, more than 2,000 households in these regions were affected around
the country. Some suffered crop damage, destruction of shelter and loss of household assets
such as livestock. Increased vulnerability and loss of productive assets contributed to urban
migration as people sought employment, although the extent of this can not be confirmed due
to lack of comprehensive or reliable data.
In March 2007, severe flooding occurred in various parts of the country, including Uruzgan,
Badghis, Helmand, Nimroz, Daikundi and Herat provinces. An avalanche hit the province of
Ghor, where 40 families were reported to be affected. Houses and agricultural land have been
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