About 40,000 children have lost their homes in north Afghanistan’s Baghlan province as heavy downpours and floods lashed the province and other regions, global charity Save the Children said.

“Children are scared. Many have lost everything, not only their homes but also their schools and the places where they play. They have lost everything that’s familiar. They have lost all routine,” said Arshad Malik, country director for the charity in Afghanistan.

More than 330 people were killed across the impoverished country due to heavy downpours and floods earlier on Friday.

According to the Afghanistan office of the World Food Programme and local Afghan officials, the tragedy occurred mostly in Baghlan, Takhar, Badakhshan and Ghor provinces.

Global organisations and Afghan officials have warned of a rising death toll and infectious diseases, especially among children, following the floods.

The World Health Organisation said on Monday that it had sent eight emergency response teams to the flood-affected region to monitor the risk of infections.

Afghanistan is among the most vulnerable countries to climate change.

It has been experiencing a rise in extreme weather conditions, including floods and drought, according to a statement released Sunday by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. 

(Xinhua/NAN)