KABUL, 27 March 2007 (IRIN) - KABUL, 27 March 2007 (IRIN) - More than a week after floods and avalanches killed dozens of people and caused extensive damage in several provinces of Afghanistan, affected communities say little or no aid has been delivered to them. Officials blame lack of access, lack of coordination among aid agencies and insurgency for the slow response.

"Six days ago my house was destroyed and my animals were killed in the floods and yet I have received nothing," said Attaullah, who has set up a tent for his six-member family in Lashkargah, the provincial capital of Helmand, a southern province.

Another family, whose house was destroyed by floods in the Dehrawod district of Uruzgan province, told IRIN that after days of waiting in desperation, they had only received some rice and ghee. "We live in the open air and my children are suffering from diarrhoea," said Shah Wali.

In 10 provinces, about 60 people and more than 4,000 animals have been killed by rainfall, floods and avalanches. The bad weather spell damaged more than 1,500 houses and displaced thousands of people, officials in Kabul say.

While some food items, warm clothes, tents and medicines have been distributed in some of the regions that suffered flash floods and avalanches, aid workers say there is much more to be done.

However, provincial officials in flood-stricken Uruzgan and Dai Kundi provinces say their efforts have been hampered by damaged roads and a lack of resources.

In addition, ongoing insurgency in the volatile Helmand and Nimroz provinces has impeded aid delivery.

"Obviously, we cannot get into Helmand because of security concerns," said a United Nations official who wanted to remain anonymous.

There are also concerns that disharmony and a lack of coordination among aid agencies have caused delays in relief operations.

"We disagree with the kind of prolonged assessments that the UN implements in its response to a humanitarian emergency," said Abdul Matin Adrak, head of Afghanistan's disaster preparedness department.

The Afghan government, NATO-led International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF), the UN and other relief organisations each independently responded to the seasonal natural disaster, creating confusion and inefficiency, added Adrak.

Aleem Siddique, from the UN's mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), argued that "reaching 20,000 people in the affected regions is a huge operation".

According to UNAMA, its first convoy of humanitarian supplies will reach Lashkargah - where floods destroyed hundreds of houses on 18 and 19 March – on Tuesday.

"Yesterday, we received a confirmed request from Helmand province on what the particular needs were," said Siddique.

Hundreds of families who have lost houses and livelihoods will likely face difficulties in their post-disaster rehabilitation, say aid workers.

"The government will give US $200 to a family who has lost a member in the recent disaster, but will not be able to provide assistance in the reconstruction of their houses or business," said Adrak.

However, a national emergency committee chaired by Afghanistan's second vice-president, Karim Khalili, has approved the reconstruction of schools, mosques and bridges damaged by recent natural disasters.

ad/at/ar/ed

IRIN news